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This is Planet Money from NPR.

It is finally summer. A time to relax, touch some grass and think about nothing but the sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, and the

entire economic history of the world.

Welcome back everyone to Planet Money Summer School.

Whenever the temperature rises and nature beckons, we show up with a new batch of stimulating

lessons to make sure your brain has something to do on the long drive to the beach.

Every Wednesday till Labor Day, we will tackle the biggest questions in economics.

In summers past, we've covered Econ 101, investing skills, and business strategy. This

summer we'll look back, way back at how we got to the bewildering economy we have today.

Consider it, the world's easiest master's degree

in economic history.

I'm your host, Robert Smith. Now I know, you might be thinking Robert the past is dead and gone. No

grown up needs to know about the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 or the Smoot Holly

...