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Barter, centralized merchants and geographical spread

2010; Elsevier BV; Volume: 90; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1435-5957.2010.00311.x

1435-5957

José Noguera,

Historical Economic and Social Studies

Papers in Regional ScienceVolume 90, Issue 1 p. 143-157 Barter, centralized merchants and geographical spread José Noguera, José Noguera Department of Economics, University of Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Estacion Central, Santiago, Chile (e-mail: jose.noguera@usach.cl) I am grateful to Professor Alex Anas for his useful comments.Search for more papers by this author José Noguera, José Noguera Department of Economics, University of Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Estacion Central, Santiago, Chile (e-mail: jose.noguera@usach.cl) I am grateful to Professor Alex Anas for his useful comments.Search for more papers by this author First published: 02 March 2011 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1435-5957.2010.00311.xCitations: 2 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Abstract This essay analyses the circumstances under which a redistributive barter system with centralized merchants dominates over primitive unstructured barter. It emphasizes the role of the geographical spread to explain the emergence of structured trade. The model analytically shows how, in the presence of taste for variety and increasing returns to scale in the production of commodities, the opportunity cost of direct bartering interacts with the transport costs and the geographical spread to explain the existence of intermediaries, and provides some interesting links between the literature on market emergence and the birth and growth of cities. Resumen Este trabajo analiza las circunstancias bajo las que un sistema de trueque redistributivo con mercaderes centralizados tiene preponderancia sobre el trueque no estructurado de sociedades más primitivas. Enfatiza el papel de la dispersión geográfica para explicar la aparición del comercio estructurado. El modelo muestra analíticamente como, en presencia de una preferencia por la variedad de productos y de rendimientos crecientes a escala en la obtención de productos básicos, el costo de oportunidad del trueque directo interactúa con los costos de transporte y la dispersión geográfica para explicar la existencia de intermediarios, y aporta vínculos interesantes entre la literatura sobre la aparición de mercados y la creación y desarrollo de las ciudades. Citing Literature Volume90, Issue1March 2011Pages 143-157 RelatedInformation