The Economy of Game of Thrones – Game Of Thrones Weekly

Westeros is very backwards. Considering their 12,000 year time line in societies, just like us, you'd think they'd be more advanced. However I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that magic has mainly been prevalent for much of that time. It's more emphasized in the books, but the birth of Dany's dragons increased the magic in their world. Considering how long it's been with no dragons (a couple hundred years, I think) I'm kind of considering that Westeros is in something of a dark age. In my opinion, once the War for the Dawn is won (hopefully by then the iron throne will be eradicated also) we'll see a beginning of a Renaissance.

Anyway, the economy and the overall environment of these places in the books are a lot more emphasized. Arya's chapters in the first few books focuses a lot on the plight of the smallfolk. In Tyrion's chapters in book 2 you are also shown how the war is affecting the smallfolk in King's Landing. Food is scarce and there is definitely inflation, an inflation that doesn't go anywhere even when the Tyrell's provide their share of goods in book 3. One of the most horrifying things you see much more of in the books is how every side treats the lands and towns the smallfolk maintain. Burning crops and stores of food, killing whole towns, raping women and girls, and randomly enslaving them. The show really kind of glossed over all that type of horror, even when Arya was in Harrenhal, which was an internment camp-like situation where she was abused and consistently threatened with rape and getting tortured and/or killed.

And yeah, Dany asked in the books how places like Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen don't get pillaged by the Dothraki, and it's because those places are so rich that they pay tribute to them, so that appeases them for the time being. 🙂

Interesting conversations but for a discussion on economy there were several huge topics that you didnt even touch on. Many complex theories around how things are run in westeros. I'll name a few and maybe they can be covered in future episodes since we have such a long time since the next season. 1. Iron Bank, how do you do something on economy and not discuss the one financial institution in the series. Its interesting to think about who they choose to back and when and how they choose to step in to get there due. 2. Litlefinger (Ryan's favorite) was purposefully bankrupting the crown? He may have been trying to get the iron bank to step in and either back him if he paid them back or just create chaos that would the ladder to his ascension. 3. You touched on the citadel and Maesters for education but there is also a huge theory that they are trying to surpress magic and working as a unified front to dictate the economy and how things are run in westeros. 4. Would have been cool to hear your thoughts on tournaments (like our pro sports?) and how some of them offered huge prizes to either nobles sons or superior knights who spend their life training in combat. 5. Not that they are chains like littlefingers brothels but Bed and Breakfast places along the kings road seem to be a pretty good business in times of peace. 6. Faceless men, How for a large sum of money they can carry out murders that could vary in importance from a peasant to a Lord. What do they use the money for and how is that for a business model. Love the content you guys offer and can't wait to hear more. For the record if I was buying a house/castle I think I might like the Saphire Isle (Where Brienne comes from).