Retro Econ: "Silicon Valley of the 14th Century--What the U.S. Can Learn From 1386 Germany"

A repost from April 2012.

From the Atlantic:

This is a story about how innovation happens. It begins with
the Papal Schism of 1386 (seriously), demonstrates the ability of
universities to foster capitalism, and concludes with a surprising hero
of the modern world: lawyers.



If you want an illustration of just how crucial a role education
plays in economic development, there are any number