
How the Dutch Golden Age Created the World's First Middle Class Economy
Published: September 8, 2026
Duration: 14:04
Why did tiny Netherlands become Europe's richest country while massive empires like Spain went broke? In this episode, Casey reveals how 17th-century Dutch merchants accidentally created the world's first middle-class economy and shows you the psychological patterns that still drive economic success today.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• How Amsterdam's population exploded from 30,000 to 200,000 people in just 80 years (and what growth patterns you can spot in today's boom towns)
• Why the Dutch controlled 75% of European trade while bigger countries struggled to compete
• The simple tolerance principle that made Dutch wages 50-60% higher than anywhere else in Europe
• How Amsterdam invented the stock market in 1...