Undoubtedly, in this framework, what was good for the central bank was also good universally and for the public at large. Any faint doubt that, as a private institution, the central bank could work in favor of the ruling class was strongly disregarded, since "the only defence against infl ation is to be found in the wisdom of the fi nancial world in general, and of Finance Ministries and central banks in particular" (ibid., 240– 41).

Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, loc. 1012