Interest has been a controversial subject since ancient times, drawing censure from all of the world’s major religions as well as important thinkers including Aristotle. But why does interest exist in the first place? Why does money have the power to grow? A number of different theories exist which attribute the existence of interest to such diverse causes as the fertility of nature, the productivity of capital, human nature, or a basic design flaw in our form of money. The panel consists of three distinguished economists who have written and taught on the subject of interest. Join us for an in-depth discussion of the causes and consequences of interest.