Institutions, taxation, and market relationships in ancient Athens

Carl Hampus Lyttkens

No 2008:9, Working Papers from Lund University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper explores the mutual influence between the institutional development in Athens in the archaic and classical periods and the contemporary changes in economic life. This enhances our understanding of the causes and consequences of institutional change. It is also worth exploring in view of the suggested connections between economic development, markets and democracy. Between 600 and 322 B.C., Athenian society underwent significant institutional change. Rule by a birth aristocracy gave way to (changing) democratic institutions. Political pay was introduced for magistrates, jurors, and assemblymen. Legislation and execution was transferred to the Assembly and to the courts. The nature and extent of taxation changed. In the same period, economic life changed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Trade and specialisation increased, coinage was introduced and self-sufficient farming gradually gave way to reliance on imports and on the market for necessary goods. These changes not only influenced institutional change, they also affected people’s perception of the world. The influence of institutions on the presence and nature of economic transactions is obvious. The influence on institutional change from changes in economic behaviours and outlook seems however potentially equally important.

Keywords: institutional change; democracy; market; Athens; antiquity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 H30 N43 O17 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2008-02-28
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-pbe, nep-pke and nep-pol
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published as Lyttkens, Carl Hampus, 'Institutions, taxation, and market relationships in ancient Athens' in Journal of Institutional Economics , 2010, pages 505-527.

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Journal Article: Institutions, taxation, and market relationships in ancient Athens (2010)
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