Tryion famously got out of more than one bind with the promise “a Lannister always pays his debts,” but the economics of Westeros are more complicated than Quaithe’s prophecies. Although Game of Thrones has, from time to time, made money and the Iron Bank major plot points, a new round-up shows that Westeros’s finances are more dire than the most savage dire wolf.
Loan service Money Guru put together an infographic that breaks down how the economy works in Westeros, and it goes a long way to explaining why the Iron Throne is so screwed for money, even before Daenerys Targaryen burned up part of the loot train in the last season’s most awesome episode. During Robert Baratheon’s rule, the Iron Throne found itself in quite a bit of dept, as it had to borrow from the Faith of the Seven, the Iron Bank, and the Lannisters. As Tywin Lannister revealed in Season 4, the Lannister’s gold mines had dried up, which mean that there was even more dept and deception plaguing the crown’s finances.
That’s all clear from watching the HBO show, though. The infographic also points out some other ways in which the Seven Kingdom’s economy is flawed, including a lack of infrastructure (major roads that turn into mud whenever there’s rain can put a serious halt on trade) and a total lack of technological development. Seriously, it’s like nobody has invented anything new in all of Westerosi history.
Check out the full infographic below.
Game of Thrones Season 8 will premiere in 2019.
