L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*, is widely recognized within economics as a rich allegory for monetary reform championed by the Populist movement and William Jennings Bryan's 1896 and 1900 presidential campaigns. The yellow brick road (representing the gold standard), the Emerald City of Oz (symbolizing greenback money), and even Dorothy’s silver slippers (later ruby in the film) embody Baum and Bryan's conviction that combining gold and silver coinage would alleviate economic hardship in 1890s America. We contend that Baum’s symbolism offers a solution to contemporary economic struggles globally. The 2009 release marks the 70th anniversary of the iconic 1939 MGM film adaptation, generating significant public interest, evidenced by the millions of visitors to even amateur Oz websites.
Lists with Movie “The Secret of Oz”
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