Bond. World's oldest living bond.

This podcast episode explores the story of the world's oldest living bond, issued in 1624 to fund the repair of a dike in the Netherlands. These bonds, which functioned similarly to modern bonds, were purchased by individuals and institutions, and the water authority that issued the bond agreed to pay interest to the bondholders. The episode traces the origins of bonds back to the Netherlands in the 1600s and discusses how the Dutch played a pivotal role in developing the modern bond structure. It also focuses on the fascinating journey of the oldest bond in the world, currently owned by the Regional Water Authority, and highlights its annual interest payment and the upcoming 400th anniversary celebration in 2024. Lastly, the episode briefly mentions the departure of a podcast host and promotes other NPR podcasts along with emphasizing the importance of dialogue and listening to diverse perspectives.