Warning: This is Disturbing

I was complaining to my dad while home for Thanksgiving that the tallest buildings in downtown Portland are bank buildings (he's an economist). I believe I was rambling on about how bankers just move wealth between people and companies while skimming some of the top for themselves: they don't actually create any wealth they just move wealth around. He countered by explaining that providing capital to businesses who need it for their operations indirectly creates wealth and that the tall buildings are necessary symbols of wealth for a business that hinges so delicately on perception. If people think you're running out of money then you will in fact run out of money because of the ensuing bank run. The banks need to build huge skyscrapers to assuage the doubts of investors—most of the office space is rented out to other companies anyway.