Doux Commerce: Markets, Culture, and Cooperation in 1850-1920 U.S

Max Posch and Itzchak Tzachi Raz
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Max Posch: Department of Economics, University of Exeter
Itzchak Tzachi Raz: Department of Economics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

No 2503, Discussion Papers from University of Exeter, Department of Economics

Abstract: We study how rising market integration shaped cooperative culture and behavior in the 1850–1920 United States. Leveraging plausibly exogenous changes in county-level market access driven by railroad expansion and population growth, we show that increased market access fostered universalism, tolerance, and generalized trust—traits supporting cooperation with strangers—and shifted cooperation away from kin-based ties toward more generalized forms. Individual-level analyses of migrants reveal rapid cultural adaptation after moving to more market-integrated places, especially among those exposed to commerce. These effects are unlikely to be explained by changes in population diversity, economic development, access to information, or legal institutions.

Keywords: markets; trade; cooperation; culture; universalism; tolerance; trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N71 N72 R49 Z10 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-07-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his
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