One of the most intriguing papers at the recent financial history workshop in Antwerp was by Christophe Spaenjers. Christophe's research focuses on returns on alternative investments and emotional assets e.g., art, jewels, stamps, collectibles etc.. Click here for further information on emotional assets. In his new paper, Christophe looks at the returns on wine over the past century. He finds that wine performs on a par with stamps and art and just below equity. Click here to learn more about wine as an alternative investment.
My colleague and former PhD student Gareth Campbell has created a website about the British Railway Mania - click here . This episode has been described by the Economist as probably the greatest bubble in human history. Gareth's website provides background on the Mania and posits some explanations for the 'bubble'. In his explanation of why the bubble happened, Gareth places a lot of emphasis on investor myopia regarding future dividends and uncalled capital. His study of investors during the episode does not support the view that this episode was fuelled by naive and irrational investors.