The economics of war: Vikings, Conquistadors and Vietnam

This More or Less podcast episode features an interview with Duncan Weldon, author of "Blood and Treasure," discussing the economic aspects of war and conflict throughout history. Using examples such as Viking raids, the Spanish Conquistadors' plunder of the Americas, and the Vietnam War, Weldon and host Tim Harford analyze how economic incentives and strategies influenced the course of these conflicts, exploring the surprising and often counterintuitive economic consequences of war, including the impact of wealth acquisition on institutional development and the unintended consequences of military strategies based on economic theories.