Railroads and the Rise of Middle-Class Investors

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy explores the evolution of stock markets, focusing on the democratization of equity investments through railroads in the 19th century. He discusses the rise of “the market” as an economic barometer, the impact of the Panic of 1873, the creation of the first stock market indices, and the fundamental shift in understanding investment versus speculation, culminating in the principles established by the “father of financial analysis,” Benjamin Graham.