Description:
"The merchants of the medieval Hanse monopolised trade in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The authors describe the structure of their trade system in terms of network organisation and attempts to explain, on the grounds of institutional economics, the coordination of the merchants' commercial exchange by reputation, trust and culture. The institutional economics approach also allows for a comprehensive analysis of coordination problems arising between merchants, towns and the 'Kontore.' Due to the simplicity and flexibility of network trade, the Hansards could bridge the huge gap in economic development between the West and the East. In the changing economic conditions around 1500, however, exactly these characteristics proved to be a serious limit to further retain their trade monopoly"--Provided by publisher
Hanse History and Economics : a New Institutional Economics Perspective on Hanseatic Trade -- Culture, Trust and Reputation : the Network Structure of Hanseatic Trade and its Benefits -- "Small World" Reconstruction and Meaning of the Hansards' Social Networks -- Bridging Distances and Filling Gaps : Strategies to Handle Heterogeneous Commercial Environments -- State of Cities, Commercial Trust or Virtual Organisation? : Structure and Coordination of the Hanse -- Competitive Advantage or Limit to Business? : Contingency and Path Dependence -- Perspectives of Research into Hanseatic Trade : the Impact of the Model of Network Organisation.