Law and long-term economic change : a Eurasian perspective / edited by Debin Ma and Jan Luiten van Zanden.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ma, Debin.

Zanden, J. L. van.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Law and economic development--History.

Law and economic development.

Law--Economic aspects--Asia--History.

Law.

Law--Economic aspects--Europe--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (375 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford Economics and Finance, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Recently, a growing body of work on "law and finance" and "legal origins" has highlighted the role of formal legal institutions in shaping financial institutions. However, these writings have focused largely on Europe, neglecting important non-Western traditions that prevail in a large part of the world. Law and Long-Term Economic Change brings together a group of leading scholars from economics, economic history, law, and area studies to develop a unique, global and, long-term perspective on the linkage between law and economic change. Covering the regions of Western Europe, East and South Asia, and the Middle East, the chapters explore major themes regarding the nature and evolution of different legal regimes; their relationship with the state or organized religion; the definition and interpretation of ownership and property rights; the functioning of courts, and other mechanisms for dispute resolution and contract enforcement; and the complex dynamics of legal transplantations through processes such as colonization. The text makes clear that the development of legal traditions and institutions—as embodiments of cultural values and norms—exerts a strong effect on long-term economic change. And it demonstrates that a good understanding of legal origins around the world enriches any debate about Great Divergence in the early modern era, as well as development and underdevelopment in 19th-20th century Eurasia.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Contributors

1. Law and Long- Term Economic Change: An Editorial Introduction

2. The Evolution of Law: Political Foundations of Private Law in Medieval Europe and Japan

3. Law and Economy in Traditional China: A “Legal Origin” Perspective on the Great Divergence

4. Property Rights, Land, and Law in Imperial China

5. Contracts, Property, and Litigation: Intermediation and Adjudication in the Huizhou Region (Anhui) in Sixteenth- Century China

6. Law and Economic Change in India, 1600– 1900

7. Land and Law in Colonial India

8. The Political Economy of Law and Economic Development in Islamic History

9. Islamic Legal Institutions of Contracts and Courts: A Comparative Perspective

10. Bankruptcy Laws: East versus West

11. Debt Litigation in Medieval Holland, 1200– 1350

12. The Resolution of Commercial Conflicts in Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam (1250– 1650)

13. The Portuguese Judicial System in the Nineteenth Century: Rules, Risks, and Judges

14. The Evolution of Self- and State Regulation of the London Stock Exchange, 1688– 1878

15. British Legal Institutions and Transaction Costs in the Early Transport Revolution

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780804777612

0804777616

OCLC:

731646945