The Gold Standard Explained: What It Was and Why It Ended

The Gold Standard Explained: What It Was and Why It Ended

July 7, 2026 · 15 min · Season 1 · Episode 132

About this episode

This episode explains the gold standard, its historical significance, and the reasons for its discontinuation in the United States.

The gold standard shaped money for generations, then disappeared. In this episode, Ryan explains what the gold standard actually was, how it tied a country's currency to a fixed amount of gold, and why the United States ultimately moved away from it. He and Aaron walk through the trade-offs in plain language: the discipline gold imposed, the flexibility it took away, and how its end shaped the dollar you carry today. A clear, story-driven history that makes a confusing economic topic click, ...

People in this episode

Hosts: Ryan Nelson, Aaron Hoisington

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United States

Books & works: The Gold Standard

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