Law and Peace: Contracts and the Success of the Danish Dairy Cooperatives

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: University of Copenhagen; University of East Anglia; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC); University of East Anglia; University of Southern Denmark
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC HISTORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0507
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022050711002488
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 197-224
• 关键词: technology

摘要

We consider the successful early emergence of cooperative creameries in Denmark in the late nineteenth century within the framework of the new institutional economics presented by Oliver Williamson. Previous work focused on the social cohesion of the Danes, but we demonstrate that this was not sufficient for their success. The Danish legal system, which we compare to that of other countries, was also of crucial importance, along with the way in which rules were monitored and enforced. Of particular interest is the Danish cooperatives' use of contracts, which we explore with evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources.