EUR.INST: A Market Economy in the Early Roman Empire

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                ABSTRACTS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY
                     (c) 2001 EH.Net
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Name: Peter Temin
Email: ptemin@mit.edu
Institution: MIT

Co-author: none

Title: A Market Economy in the Early Roman Empire

Internet Address of abstracted work: not available

By mail:
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142-1347

Phone: 617 253 3126
Fax: 617 253 1330

Language: English

Abstract:
I argue that the economy of the early Roman Empire was primarily a
market economy. The parts of this economy located far from each other
were not tied together as tightly as markets often are today, but
they still functioned as part of a comprehensive Mediterranean
market. There are two reasons why this conclusion is important.
First, it brings the description of the Roman economy as a whole into
accord with the fragmentary evidence we have about individual market
transactions. Second, this synthetic view provides a platform on
which to investigate further questions about the origins and eventual
demise of the Roman economy and about conditions for the formation
and preservation of markets in general.

Bibliography: Temin, Peter. "A Market Economy in the Early Roman
Empire." Manuscript, MIT, 2001.

Subject: W
Geographical Area: 4
Country/Region: Roman Empire
Time Period: 2

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