Gold—the ancient metal that has captivated civilizations, kings, and investors for centuries. Its allure transcends time, immune to the whims of central banks and government policies. When inflation rears its head, gold shines even brighter. But has it always lived up to that promise? Let’s explore the glittering saga of gold, its psychological impact, and its role as a non-correlated diversification tool. Gold is glittering in 2024 so far. It has weathered storms, financial crises, and geopolitical upheavals. But how well has it protected purchasing power? The dollar dilemma In 1980, the U.S. dollar had long decoupled from the gold standard. The USD depreciated by 17% during the ’70s. Since then until today that depreciation has continued. So, let’s take the USD out of the equation and focus on the Big Mac Index—a quirky yet insightful measure of purchasing power parity (PPP). In 1980, a Big Mac cost US$1.05, while gold traded around US$589.00 per ounce....