Interest in Medieval Accounts: Examples from England, 1272-1340

26 Pages Posted: 21 Dec 2008

See all articles by Adrian R. Bell

Adrian R. Bell

University of Reading - ICMA Centre

Chris Brooks

University of Bristol - School of Economics, Finance and Management

Tony K. Moore

University of Reading - ICMA Centre

Date Written: December 19, 2008

Abstract

Research into medieval interest rates has been hampered by the diversity of terms and methods used by historians, creating serious misconceptions in the reporting of medieval interest rates, which have then been taken at face value by later scholars. This has had important repercussions on the wider debate on the credit risk of different forms of medieval governments and the costs of borrowing as a bar to investment. This paper seeks to establish a standardised methodology to accurately calculate interest rates from historical sources, which will provide a firmer foundation for comparisons between regions and periods. It also supports other recent literature suggesting that medieval economic and financial development was more advanced than previously portrayed. The paper is illustrated with case studies drawn from the credit arrangements of the English kings between 1272 and c.1340, and argues that the variations over time in interest rates charged reflect the contemporary notion of credit worthiness as it applied to the medieval English Crown.

Keywords: medieval finance, interest rates, government debt, Italian merchant banks

JEL Classification: N01, N13, G24

Suggested Citation

Bell, Adrian R. and Brooks, Chris and Moore, Tony K., Interest in Medieval Accounts: Examples from England, 1272-1340 (December 19, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1318333 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1318333

Adrian R. Bell

University of Reading - ICMA Centre ( email )

Whiteknights Park
P.O. Box 242
Reading RG6 6BA
United Kingdom

Chris Brooks (Contact Author)

University of Bristol - School of Economics, Finance and Management ( email )

School of Accounting and Finance
15-19 Tyndalls Park Road
Bristol, BS8 1PQ
United Kingdom

Tony K. Moore

University of Reading - ICMA Centre ( email )

Whiteknights Park
P.O. Box 242
Reading RG6 6BA
United Kingdom

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