Why Economic Systems Collapse
Posted January 15, 2026
Economic systems do not last forever.
Over the course of human history, societies have repeatedly organized production, finance, and power in ways that worked—until they didn’t. When the constraints surrounding those systems changed, the systems themselves either adapted… or broke down.
That historical pattern is the focus of my newest Macro Watch video:
Why Economic Systems Collapse
In this presentation, I step back from day-to-day market noise and look at the deep structural forces that determine whether an economic system survives or fails.
This is not a story about ideology.
It is a story about constraints.
Why economic systems really change
Economic systems do not collapse because people suddenly adopt new ideas. They collapse because the old rules stop working.
In this new video, I examine seven earlier economic systems—from hunter-gatherer economies to capitalism—and show:
- What made each system function
- The constraints that ultimately limited it
- Why those constraints became binding over time
- And what happened when adaptation failed
Some systems collapsed outright. Others survived only by transforming themselves into something new.
Why this matters now
Today, Creditism—the economic system that has dominated the global economy for more than half a century—is under growing strain.
Its internal contradictions are becoming increasingly binding.
The old configuration no longer works smoothly.
And a new configuration is beginning to emerge.
History shows that this is the most dangerous phase for any economic system.
Whether Creditism adapts successfully or breaks down under pressure will shape financial markets, economic outcomes, political stability, and the global balance of power for decades to come.
That is why understanding how economic systems collapse is no longer an academic exercise. It is a practical necessity.
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