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Reputation and Coalitions in Medieval Trade: Evidence on the Maghribi Traders

Greif, Avner·1989·The Journal of Economic History
DOI 10.1017/s0022050700009475
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Abstract

This article examines the economic institution utilized during the eleventh century to facilitate complex trade characterized by asymmetric information and limited legal contract enforceability. The geniza documents are employed to present the “coalition”, an economic institution based upon a reputation mechanism utilized by Mediterranean traders to confront the organizational problem associated with the exchange relations between merchants and their overseas agents. The the oretical framework explains many trade-related phenomena, especially why traders utilized specific forms of business association, and indicates the interrelations between social and economic institutions.

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Cited by

Metadata

Authors
Greif, A.
Venue
The Journal of Economic History
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
1989-12
Volume
49
Issue
4
Pages
857-882
ISSN
  • 0022-0507 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-6372
DOI
10.1017/s0022050700009475
OpenAlex
W2047115881
Cited by
1,420
References
1
FWCI
41.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 7032 d)

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