We describe the theoretical ideas, developed between the 1950s–1970s, which led to the prediction of
the Higgs boson, the particle that was discovered in 2012. The forces of nature are based on
symmetry principles. We explain the nature of these symmetries through an economic analogy. We also
discuss the Higgs mechanism, which is necessary to avoid some of the naive consequences of these
symmetries, and to explain various features of elementary particles.