Book contents
- The Organization of Ancient Economies
- The Organization of Ancient Economies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Preface
- Maps
- One The Structure of Ancient Economy
- Two The Domestic Economy
- Three The Community of Households
- Four From Households to Palaces
- Five Financing Formal Institutions
- Six Taxation, Rent, and Patronage
- Seven The Role of Merchants and Trade in Ancient Society
- Eight The Nature and Origin of Independent Craft Production
- Nine On Markets and Marketplaces
- Ten On First Principles of the Ancient Economy
- Notes
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
Three - The Community of Households
Informal Institutions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 August 2020
Book contents
- The Organization of Ancient Economies
- The Organization of Ancient Economies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Preface
- Maps
- One The Structure of Ancient Economy
- Two The Domestic Economy
- Three The Community of Households
- Four From Households to Palaces
- Five Financing Formal Institutions
- Six Taxation, Rent, and Patronage
- Seven The Role of Merchants and Trade in Ancient Society
- Eight The Nature and Origin of Independent Craft Production
- Nine On Markets and Marketplaces
- Ten On First Principles of the Ancient Economy
- Notes
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Informal institutions are the voluntary social arrangements established between households that are used to solve problems that they cannot resolve on their own. Examples from seven ancient and premodern societies are used to illustrate the operation of informal institutions to mobilize labor, establish and maintain interhousehold social networks, obtain spouses, construct intergroup trade networks, and supply emergency support to avoid household failure.
Keywords
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- Chapter
- Information
- The Organization of Ancient EconomiesA Global Perspective, pp. 43 - 75Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020