EH.N: CfP; Session, "Administrative Reforms and Property Rights," XVth World Economic History Congress

[Felix Selgert]

Call for Papers: Session Proposal, XVth World Economic History Congress:
"Administrative Reforms and Property Rights"
Utrecht 2009


Insecure property rights hamper investment and thus economic growth 
and development. It is well-known that in numerous present-day 
developing countries state actions often are arbitrary and officials 
corrupt; consequently property rights are not safe.

The same was true in many of today's highly developed countries 
during their pre-industrial period. There a thorough change of state 
administrations took place either through reforms, revolution or in 
an evolutionary way which massively reduced corruption and other 
illegal behaviour of state officials and local magistrates. Such 
change proved to be an important prerequisite for their successful 
development.

In Germany reforms undertaken in the Napoleonic era created a modern 
bureaucracy in the sense of Max Weber characterised by a hierarchical 
organisation, segregation of public and private funds, lifelong 
employment and full alimentation of officials by the state. This 
proved to be an efficient administrative environment for growth.

However, there are other forms of effective modern administrations, 
for example that existing in the United States. To explore why all of 
them enhanced the safety of property rights is an important task of 
the proposed session. In addition we are interested in the different 
political contexts that induced the creation of successful 
administrative institutions and in the precise organisational steps 
of their implementation.

We welcome contributions to this session which we plan to submit to 
the organizers of the XVth World Economic History Congress. Paper 
proposals should include a 2-page summary and be submitted until 
15.2.2008 to:

Christoph Buchheim and Felix Selgert, Seminar of Economic and Social 
History, University of Mannheim, D-68131 Mannheim.

e-mail: fselgert at rumms.uni-mannheim.de

Fax: +49 621 181 1903