CIRJE-F-268 | "The Role of the Merchant Coalition in Pre-modern Japanese Economic Development: An Historical Institutional Analysis" |
Author Name | Okazaki, Tetsuji |
Date | March 2004 |
Full Paper | PDF file@ |
Remarks | Revised as CIRJE-F-284 (2004). |
Abstract |
This paper examines the role of the merchant coalition (kabu nakama) in the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth century in Japan, from the standpoint of Historical Institutional Analysis (Greif[1997, 1998]). Quantitative economic history literature has made clear that market-based economic growth started around the end of the eighteenth century in Japan. On the other hand, the Bakufu, the central government, repeatedly promulgated Aitai Sumeshi Rei (Mutual Settlement Decree), prescribing that the public authorities would not accept suits on pecuniary affairs. This implies that the public system for third-party enforcement was not working well. |