'A fascinating analysis of the proposition that the start of the 21st century is witnessing the rapid rise in South East Asia of a new and powerful transnational economic zone, the Asian Mediterranean. It uses a wide range of historical and contemporary multidisciplinary sources to systematically explore how, why, and in what ways we can better interpret and understand this contemporary version of economic globalisation by looking back to the equivalent processes centred on the ports around the Mediterranean and the Baltic seas during late 16th century.' - Peter Daniels, University of Birmingham, UK 'Francois Gipouloux has written a vast and comprehensive history of the Asian economic system. In the tradition of Braudel, he paints a picture that is detailed, full of insight, and essentially very long term. On the basis of an analysis of the old Mediterranean and Hanseatic economic networks, he surveys the pre-modern Asian system, bringing it up to date with studies of Yokohama, Hong Kong, Singapore and other Asian hubs. The culmination of many years work, Gipouloux throws light on a new China -- a China no longer land based and inward looking but dependent on, and a power in, a maritime world.' - Christopher Howe, University of London, UK 'Gipouloux's ground breaking study based on a long career as a scholar of Asia's past is a most original contribution to the study of globalization. Connecting past and present, the author has further developed the somewhat vague metaphor of an Asian Mediterranean into a well defined concept that can also be applied for analyzing contemporary affairs. While in the past the traditional Chinese and Japanese state systems were failing to formulate adequate answers, on a more informal level, the port cities were able to meet with the maritime challenges of the emerging modern world system. The author convincingly shows how also in the age of globalization, a string of coastal metropolises continues to be instrumental in opening up the Far Eastern economy to the global economy.' - Leonard Blusse, Leiden University, The Netherlands This insightful book draws upon a wide range of disciplines - political economy, geography and international relations - to examine how Asia has returned to its central position in the world economy. As in the case of the hosting of the Olympic games, it is cities rather than states which compete, whether as financial centers, logistical hubs or platforms for coordinating international subcontracting. Analyzing the historical precedents of the Mediterranean maritime republics, the Baltic Sea Hanseatic League and the South China Sea mercantile kingdoms, the book delineates the way stable economic and legal institutions were developed largely beyond the purview of, and at times in conflict with, the State. Discussing the strong link between history and contemporary economic situation, The Asian Mediterranean will appeal to academics, including post-graduates students, of economics, geography, history, regional studies and Asian studies.

The endogenous nature of money is a fact that has been recognized rather late in monetary economics. Today, it is explained most comprehensively by post-Keynesian economic analysis. This book revisits the nature of money and its endogeneity, featuring a number of the protagonists who took part in the original debates in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as new voices and analyses. Expert contributors revisit long-standing discussions from the position of both horizontalism and structuralism, and prescribe new areas of research and debate for post-Keynesian scholars to explore. Louis-Philippe Rochon and Sergio Rossi eloquently situate the nature of money and its endogeneity in an historical context, before bringing together an engaging array of chapters written by contemporary leading scholars. These chapters put forth detailed analyses of money creation; central bank operations and the role of monetary authorities; a link between interest rates and income distribution; a stock-flow analysis of monetary economies of production; and finally, a reinterpretation of horizontalism and structuralism. Post-Keynesian and heterodox economists, institutionalist economists, scholars of money and finance, and graduate students studying economics will all find this an enlightening read. Contributors include: A. Cottrell, P. Dalziel, P. Docherty, G. Fontana, S.T. Fullwiler, E. Hein, J.E. King, J. Knodell, M. Lavoie, N. Levy-Orlik, C.J. Niggle, T.I. Palley, Y. Panagopoulos, L.-P. Rochon, C. Rogers, S. Rossi, M. Sawyer, M. Setterfield, J. Smithin, A. Spiliotis

In Education in China, ca. 1840-present Meimei Wang, Bas van Leeuwen and Jieli Li offer a description of the transformation of the Chinese education system from the traditional Confucian teaching system to a modern mode. In doing so, they touch on various debates about education such as the speed of the educational modernization around 1900, the role of female education, and the economic efficiency of education. This description is combined with relevant data stretching from the second half of 19th century to present collected mainly from statistical archives and contemporary investigations.

Eastern Wines on Western Tables: Consumption, Trade and Economy in Ancient Italy is an interdisciplinary and multifaceted study concerning wine commerce and the Roman economy during Classical antiquity. Wine was one of the main consumption goods in the Mediterranean during antiquity, and the average Roman adult male probably consumed between 0,5 - 1 litre of it per day. It is therefore clear that the production and trading of wine was essential for the Roman economy. This book demonstrates that wines from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean region in particular, played a crucial part in wine commerce. Moreover, it sheds new light on economic dilemmas that have long puzzled scholars, such as growth and market integration during antiquity.

In Agricultural Development in Qing China: A Quantitative Study, 1661-1911 SHI Zhihong offers for the first time an overview of agricultural development in Qing China in the English language. Being by far the largest sector in one of the largest economies in the world, understanding its development is crucial not only for agricultural studies, but also to advance economic debates such as on the Great Divergence. Combining the recent quantitative paradigm with the more traditional scholarly approach, this book uses a great number of primary sources to arrive at new and revised estimates of crucial indicators such as land acreage, crop yield, pasture, and total output. Its main conclusion is that a serious economic and social problem occurred since the mid-Qing, where agriculture was increasingly less able to feed a growing population, which was a major factor contributing to the growing crisis in the rule of the dynasty.

Peasants, Lords and State: Comparing Peasant Conditions in Scandinavia and the Eastern Alpine Region, 1000-1750 challenges the once widespread view, rooted in the historical thinking of the nineteenth century, that Scandinavian and especially Norwegian peasants enjoyed a particular "peasant freedom" compared to their Continental counterparts. Markers of this supposed freedom were believed to be peasants' widespread ownership of land, extensive control over land and resources, and comprehensive judicial influence through the institution of the thing. The existence of slaves and unfree people was furthermore considered a marginal phenomenon. The contributors compare Scandinavia with the eastern Alpine region, two regions comprising fertile plains as well as rugged mountainous areas. This offers an opportunity to analyse the effect of topographical factors without neglecting the influence of manorial and territorial power structures over the long time-span of c.1000 to 1750. With contributions by Markus Cerman, Tore Iversen, Michael Mitterauer, John Ragnar Myking, Josef Riedmann, Werner Roesener, Helge Salvesen, and Stefan Sonderegger.

African Bank is focused on reclaiming the heritage of South Africa through key marketing and strategic consumer moments, and to accomplish this they are partnering with Rockhopper Books to release the first in a series of coffee table books celebrating great figures in South African history.

This first edition entitled Black Pioneers uncovers stories of Black Entrepreneurs in the 1960s; a time when there were little to no opportunities for people of colour to succeed in business. The book pays homage to Black Business Pioneers of the time, who were audacious enough to challenge the system and pave a new path for Black Businesses.

The book serves to tell stories of Black Businesses; highlighting their history, challenges, successes, and contributions to business at large. Featuring high-quality images the book tells the stories of impactful South African figures including:

• Constance Ntshona
• Sally Motlana
• SJJ Lesolang
• An Gadi
• HM Pitje
• PK Seabela
• Lawrence Malindi
• Sam Motsuenyane

This Companion of nineteen essays, accompanied by the editor's introduction, investigates aspects of the philosophical foundations of Adam Smith's thought as well as his economic analysis and approach to policy. The authors view Adam Smith's work as an interconnected system of thought, which incorporates both moral philosophy and economics. His earlier work in moral philosophy, The Theory of Moral Sentiments receives significant consideration and the contributors also discuss important connections and insights into the sort of economics that Adam Smith is more widely known for in his Wealth of Nations. This book is distinguished from other collections of essays on Adam Smith in that all of the contributors are economists, and the coverage is determined by the interests of contemporary economists and scholars in the history of economic thought. A wide audience will find this Companion of great value and interest, including economists, the general economics profession, political scientists and political theorists, and philosophers with an interest in Adam Smith's work as well as historians of economics. Advanced undergraduate and post-graduate students in these fields will also warmly welcome the book.

Ronald H. Coase, one of the most innovative and provocative economists of the twentieth century, has had a lasting influence in economics, law and economics, organization theory, management and political science. In this comprehensive Companion, 31 leading economists, social scientists and legal scholars, including two Nobel Laureates, offer the first global assessment of the initial impact of Coase's work and the continuing inspiration that researchers and policy makers find in his contributions.The book presents a review of the continuing power of Coase's work, including the reshaping of public policies with particular respect to public utilities and network industries. Further chapters explore research programmes that he initiated including the concept of transaction costs and the analysis of property rights, especially in terms of the regulation of the communications industry and the creation of markets for the right to pollute. The book clearly demonstrates the originality of Coase's work and the challenge that it posed to conventional perspectives which has been a hallmark of his research throughout his life, from his initial view on the nature of the firm to his recent analysis of the development of capitalism in China. Less well-known features of Coase's research going beyond his famous papers on 'The Nature of the Firm' and 'The Problem of Social Cost' are also explored in detail. From economics to public policy, this complete and thorough assessment of Coase's vast contribution will be an invaluable reference to all those interested in the many areas influenced by this great economist. Contributors: D.W. Allen, K.J. Arrow, B. Arrunada, Y. Barzel, E. Bertrand, R.R.W. Brooks, J.N. Drobak, G.W. Evans, W. Farnsworth, J. Farrell, K. Foss, N.J. Foss, R.F. Freeland, J. Groenewegen,R. Guesnerie, F. Gul, T.W. Hazlett, P.G. Klein, G.D. Libecap, S.G. Medema, C. Menard, M.W. Moszoro, J.H. Mulherin, J.V.C. Nye, S. Pratten, M.M. Shirley, P.T. Spiller, J. Thomas, P. de Vries, N. Wang, O.E. Williamson

This unique troika of Handbooks provide exhaustive and indispensable coverage of the history of economic analysis. Edited by two of the foremost academics in the field, they gather together insightful and original contributions from scholars across the world. The encyclopaedic breadth and scope of the original entries will make these Handbooks an invaluable source of knowledge for all serious students and scholars of the history of economic thought. Each Handbook can be read individually and acts as a self-contained volume in its own right. They can be purchased separately or as part of a three-volume set. Volume II contains entries on the major schools of economic thought and analysis. These schools differ with regard to their 'vision' of the working of the economic system, the major forces and interactions that shape its path, and the policy recommendations proposed. At any moment of time, several such schools typically compete with one another, striving for dominance within the economic and political discourse. Contributors include: F. Allisson, R. Baranzini, M. Bellet, A.A. Belykh, C. Benassi, A. Beraud, C.B. Blankart, A. Brewer, G. Chaloupek, I. Chaplygina, S. Cook, J. Creedy, J. de Boyer des Roches, T. Demals, R.B. Emmett, G. Faccarello, C. Gehrke, G.C. Harcourt, J.E. King, H.D. Kurz, A. Lapidus, M. Lavoie, M.C. Marcuzzo, A. Molavi Vassei, P.L. Porta, A. Rosselli, M. Rutherford, N. Salvadori, B. Schefold, N.T. Skaggs, R. Solis Rosales, H.-P. Spahn, N. Thompson, H.-M. Trautwein, K. Tribe

Snow in the Tropics by Thomas Taro Lennerfors and Peter Birch offers the first comprehensive history of the independent reefer operators. These shipping companies, such as Lauritzen, Salen, Seatrade, Star Reefers, and NYK Reefer, developed the dedicated transport of refrigerated products like meat, fish, and fruit by ship, from the early 20th century to the present. Snow in the Tropics describes how the history of the reefer operators has been formed in relation to shippers, such as Dole and Chiquita, in a constant struggle with the liner companies, such as Maersk, and in relation to global economic and political trends. It also covers how the industry is discursively constructed and the psychological drivers of the business decisions in it.

A major theme of this book is that, contrary to what many experts believe, being endowed with a plenitude of natural resources is not a curse: rather it provides a potential advantage, if capitalized by the well-endowed economy. Much depends on the institutions that help frame the decision-making process that affects the process of growth and development. Canada is an example of a successful export-oriented economy. And, its export-orientation has been a focal point of discussion and debate, going way back to discussions of the early fur trade, the fishing industry, wheat farming, and mining and oil and gas exploration. Unlike other economies well-endowed with natural resources, Canada does not appear to be at all cursed, but rather blessed with natural resource abundance. This book, which ranges from the late seventeenth to the early twentieth century, provides insights from Canadian economic history on how such abundance can be a handmaiden of successful growth and development. From this perspective, the natural resource curse appears to be more of a 'man-made' phenomenon than anything else. This book also investigates aspects of gender inequality in Canada as well as the evolution of hours worked as it intersects with worker preferences and 'market forces'. The narratives in this book are contextualised by the construction of new or significantly revised data sets, which speaks to the importance of data construction to robust economic analysis and economic history.

This open access book uncovers one important, yet forgotten, form of itinerant livelihoods, namely petty trade, more specifically how it was practiced in Northern Europe during the period 1820-1960. It investigates how traders and customers interacted in different spaces and approaches ambulatory trade as an arena of encounters by looking at everyday social practices. Petty traders often belonged to subjugated social groups, like ethnic minorities and migrants, whereas their customers belonged to the resident population. How were these mobile traders perceived and described? What goods did they peddle? How did these commodities enable and shape trading encounters? What kind of narratives can be found, and whose? These questions pertaining to daily practices on a grass-root level have not been addressed in previous research. Encounters and Practices embarks on hidden histories of survival, vulnerability, and conflict, but also discloses reciprocal relations, even friendships.

In 1918, the Soviet revolutionary government repudiated the Tsarist regime's sovereign debt, triggering one of the biggest sovereign defaults ever. Yet the price of Russian bonds remained high for years. Combing French archival records, Kim Oosterlinck shows that, far from irrational, investors had legitimate reasons to hope for repayment. Soviet debt recognition, a change in government, a bailout by the French government, or French banks, or a seceding country would have guaranteed at least a partial reimbursement. As Greece and other European countries raise the possibility of sovereign default, Oosterlinck's superbly researched study is more urgent than ever.

Early modern trade and shipping through the Danish Sound has attracted the interest of many historians since a long time. A prominent reason for this is that the route via the Sound connected Europe's main economies with the economically important Baltic Sea region. The other reason why trade and shipping through the Sound attracted the attention of so many scholars is the fact that they are so very well documented by the Sound Toll Registers (STR): the records of the toll levied by the king of Denmark on the passage of ships through the Sound. Although the Sound Toll Registers have always been widely known as crucial, their sheer volume and detail make them virtually impossible to handle. To make the STR fully and quickly accessible to researchers, the online database Sound Toll Registers Online (STRO) has been called into existence. Since 2010, STRO has been becoming gradually available. The articles collected in this volume are examples of the kind of research that can be done with STRO, how it boosts the writing of the history of European maritime transport and trade, and how its use contributes to our knowledge of that history. Contributors are: Loic Charles, Ana Crespo Solana, Guillaume Daudin, Maarten Draper, Jari Eloranta, Katerina Galani, Lauri Karvonen, Yuta Kikuchi, Sven Lilja, Maria Cristina Moreira, Jari Ojala, Pierrick Pourchasse, Magnus Ressel, Klas Roennback, Werner Scheltjens, Siem van der Woude, Jerem van Duijl, and Jan Willem Veluwenkamp.