From the first stock markets of Amsterdam, London and New York to the billions of electronic commerce transactions today, privately produced and enforced economic regulations are more common, more effective and more promising than commonly considered.
In Private Governance, prominent economist Edward Stringham presents case studies of the various forms of private enforcement, self-governance or self-regulation among private groups or individuals that fill a void that government enforcement cannot. Through analytical narratives the book provides a close examination of the world’s first stock markets, key elements of which were unenforceable by law. Private Governance ultimately argues that while potential problems of private governance, such as fraud, are pervasive, so are the solutions it presents, and that much of what is orderly in the economy can be attributed to private groups and individuals. With meticulous research, Stringham demonstrates that private governance is a far more common source of order than most people realize, and that private parties have incentives to devise different mechanisms for eliminating unwanted behavior.
Private Governance documents numerous examples of private order throughout history to illustrate how private governance is more resilient to internal and external pressure than is commonly believed. Stringham discusses why private governance has economic and social advantages over relying on government regulations and laws, and explores the different mechanisms that enable private governance, including sorting, reputation, assurance, and other bonding mechanisms. Challenging and rigorously-written, Private Governance will make a compelling read for those with an interest in economics, political philosophy, and the history of current Wall Street regulations.
Private Governance
Edward Stringham – Public Perception And Financial Markets (Part 1)
Edward Stringham – How Were Early Markets Regulated? (Part 2)
Edward Stringham – What Role Does Private Governance Play In Economic History? (Part 3)
About the Speaker
Edward Stringham is the Davis Professor of Economic Organizations and Innovation at Trinity College in Hartford. He is president of the Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, former president of the Association of Private Enterprise Education, editor of the Journal of Private Enterprise, editor of two books and author of more than 60 journal articles, book chapters and policy studies. His work has been discussed on more than 100 broadcast stations, including CBS, CNBC, CNN, Fox, Headline News, NPR and MTV. His book, Private Governance: Creating Order in Economic and Social Life, is published by Oxford University Press.
