Pioneers of Capitalism: The Netherlands 1000-1800

The Netherlands was a pioneer of capitalism in the Middle Ages, leading to the Dutch Golden Age and long-term economic growth. Pioneers of Capitalism explores the institutions that made this possible, including cities, corporations, guilds, andcommons, and how they provided safeguards for market transactions in the absence of the state. The book argues that capitalism emerged within a robust civil society but flourished in the overseas territories at the price of slavery and other dire consequences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The Netherlands played a pivotal role in the development of capitalism during the Middle Ages, leading to the remarkable Dutch Golden Age and a period of unprecedented economic growth. In their book, Pioneers of Capitalism, Maarten Prak and Jan Luiten van Zanden explore the institutions that facilitated this economic transformation. They argue that informal institutions, such as cities, corporations, guilds, and commons, emerged in the Netherlands long before the state established public safeguards for economic activity. These institutions provided protection for market transactions and helped to counterbalance the centrifugal forces of capitalism.

While capitalism emerged within a robust civil society in the Netherlands, it operated under different rules in the overseas territories. The book provides a comprehensive account of the early history of capitalism, highlighting how a small region of medieval Europe transformed itself into a powerhouse of sustained economic growth and influenced the world.

The Netherlands' experience demonstrates the complex interplay between formal and informal institutions, civil society, and the forces of capitalism. It highlights the importance of government intervention and regulation in ensuring economic stability and social welfare. Pioneers of Capitalism offers valuable insights into the origins and development of capitalism and its impact on society.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 166 x 244 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691229874