IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/wpaper/hal-02274856.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Barter and the Origin of Money and Some Insights from the Ancient Palatial Economies of Mesopotamia and Egypt

Author

Listed:
  • Serge Svizzero

    (CEMOI - Centre d'Économie et de Management de l'Océan Indien - UR - Université de La Réunion)

  • Clement Tisdell

Abstract

The "Metallist" origin of money, used as a medium of exchange, is based on the presumed low efficiency of barter. However, barter is usually ill-defined and archaeological evidence about it is inconclusive. Moreover, the transaction costs associated with barter seem to have been exaggerated by metallists. Indeed, the introduction of a unit of account reduces the complexity of the relative prices system usually associated with barter. Similarly, in-kind transactions have timing constraints which are often labeled as "the double coincidence of wants"; with a system of debt and credit, delayed exchange, that is lending, is possible. Such adaptability of barter is confirmed by the study of Mesopotamian and ancient Egyptian palatial economies. They provide evidence that non-monetary transactions have persisted during millennia, challenging the metallist vision about the origin of money.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Serge Svizzero & Clement Tisdell, 2019. "Barter and the Origin of Money and Some Insights from the Ancient Palatial Economies of Mesopotamia and Egypt," Working Papers hal-02274856, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02274856
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02274856
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-02274856/document
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "The Competitiveness of Small Household Pig Producers in Vietnam: Significant Research and Policy Findings from an ACIAR-sponsored Study and their Limitations," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 97471, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Tisdell, Clem, 2014. "Information Technology's Impacts on Productivity, Welfare and Social Change: Second Version," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 195701, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    3. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2016. "Different Behavioral Explanations of the Neolithic Transition from Foraging to Agriculture: A Review," Working Papers hal-02147758, HAL.
    4. Serge Svizzero & Clem Tisdell, 2014. "Theories About the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation," Rivista di storia economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 3, pages 255-280.
    5. Clem Tisdell, 2009. "Cost–Benefit Analysis of Economic Globalization," Chapters, in: Robert J. Brent (ed.), Handbook of Research on Cost–Benefit Analysis, chapter 11, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "The Political Economy of Globalisation: Processes involving the Role of Markets, Institutions and Governance," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90507, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    7. Svizzero, Serge & Tisdell, Clem, 2015. "The Role of Palatial Economic Organization in Creating Wealth in Minoan and Mycenaean States," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 206552, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Clem Tisdell, 2007. "Knowledge and the valuation of public goods and experiential commodities: information provision and acquisition," Global Business and Economics Review, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(2/3), pages 170-182.
    9. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Globalisation, the Environment and Sustainability: EKC, Neo-Malthusian Concerns and the WTO," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90502, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    10. Tisdell, Clement A., 2006. "Economic and Business Relations Between Australia and China: An Overview and an Assessment," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90543, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    11. Darrian Collins & Clem Tisdell, 2004. "Outbound Business Travel Depends on Business Returns: Australian Evidence," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 192-207, June.
    12. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Economics, Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90618, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    13. Tisdell, Clem & Svizzero, Serge, 2015. "The Collapse of Some Ancient Societies Due to Unsustainable Mining Development (A Draft)," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 202543, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    14. Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "Economics and Tourism Development: Structural Features of Tourism and Economic Influences on its Vulnerability," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90522, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    15. Alauddin, Mohammad & Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Quantitative Impacts of Teaching Attributes on University TEVAL Scores and their Implications," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90621, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    16. Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "The WTO, Labour and Environmental Standards: Globalisation with Reference to India," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90518, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    17. Clem Tisdell, 2004. "Economic Competition and Evolution: Are There Lessons from Ecology?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 22(2), pages 179-193, April.
    18. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Economics of Business Learning: The Need for Broader Perspectives in Managerial Economics," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90532, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    19. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "Globalisation and the Economic Future of Small Isolated Nations Particularly in the Pacific," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90541, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    20. Serge Svizzero & Clement Allan Tisdell, 2001. "Concepts of Competition in Theory and Practice," Post-Print hal-02164359, HAL.
    21. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Competition and Evolution in Economics and Ecology Compared," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90506, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    22. Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "The Efficient Public Provision of Commodities: Transaction Cost, Bounded Rationality and Other Considerations," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90524, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    23. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Thirty Years of Economic Reform and Openness in China: Retrospect and Prospect," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90620, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    24. Clem Tisdell, 2013. "Agriculture, structural change and socially responsible development in China and Vietnam," Chapters, in: Moazzem Hossain & Tapan Sarker & Malcolm McIntosh (ed.), The Asian Century, Sustainable Growth and Climate Change, chapter 1, pages 11-25, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    25. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2001. "Globalization, Social Welfare, Labor Markets and Fiscal Competition," Working Papers hal-02164344, HAL.
    26. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Economic Challenges Faced by Small Island Economies: An Overview," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90627, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    27. Clement A. Tisdell, 2017. "Bounded Rationality, Satisficing and the Evolution of Economic Thought," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 264873, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    28. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Tourism Development as a Dimension of Globalisation: Experiences and Policies of China and Australia," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90535, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    29. Gao, Zhicun & Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Television Production: Its Changing Global Location, the Product Cycle and China," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90530, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    30. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Economic Benefits and Drawbacks of Cities and their Growth," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90615, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    31. Tisdell, Clement A., 2006. "Economic Prospects for Small Island Economies, Particularly in the South Pacific, in a Globalising World," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90547, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    32. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "Economic Globalisation: The Process and its Potential, Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90539, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    33. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2015. "The Collapse of Some Ancient Societies Due to Unsustainable Mining Development," Working Papers hal-02152043, HAL.
    34. Tisdell, Clement A. & Alauddin, Mohammad, 2002. "Market-Oriented Reforms in Bangladesh and their Impact on Poverty?," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90521, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    35. Serge Svizzero & Clement Allan Tisdell, 2014. "Inequality and Wealth Creation in Ancient History: Malthus’ Theory Reconsidered," Post-Print hal-02153096, HAL.
    36. Tisdell, Clem & Seidl, Irmi, 2004. "Niches and economic competition: implications for economic efficiency, growth and diversity," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 119-135, June.
    37. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Trust and its Implications for Economic Activity, Welfare and Globalisation," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90617, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    38. Adam, Latif & Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Interfirm Networks in the Indonesian Garment Industry: Trust and Other Factors in their Formation and Duration and their Marketing Consequences," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90616, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    39. Serge Svizzero & Clem Tisdell, 2002. "Reconciling globalisation and technological change: Growing income inequalities and remedial policies," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 37(3), pages 162-171, May.
    40. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "An Overview of Globalisation and Economic Policy Responses," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90537, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    41. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "An Economic Study of Small Pigholders in Vietnam: Some Insights Gained and the Scope for Further Research," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90630, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    42. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Structural Transformation in the Pig Sector in an Adjusting Vietnam Market: A Preliminary Investigation of Supply-side Changes," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90619, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    43. Shabbir Ahmad, 2020. "Estimating input-mix efficiency in a parametric framework: application to state-level agricultural data for the United States," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(36), pages 3976-3997, July.
    44. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "Business Partnerships in a Globalising World: Economic Considerations," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90542, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    45. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Transaction Costs and Bounded Rationality - Implications for Public Administration and Economic Policy," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90531, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    46. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "Agricultural Development in Traditional Asian Economies: Observations Prompted by a Livestock Study in Vietnam," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90629, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    47. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Sustainability: Can it be Achieved? Is Economics the Bottom Line?," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90512, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    48. Tisdell, Clement A. & Lapar, Ma. Lucila A. & Staal, Steven J. & Que, Nguyen Ngoc, 2009. "Natural Protection from International Competition in the Livestock Industry: Analysis, Examples and Vietnam's Pork Market as a Case," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90628, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    49. Bandara, Ranjith & Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Changing Abundance of Elephants and Willingness to Pay for their Conservation," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90538, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    50. Tisdell, Clem, 2016. "Financial Implications of Seasonal Variability in Demand for Tourism Services (Final Draft)," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 244574, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    51. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Externalities, Thresholds and the Marketing of New Aquacultural Products: Theory and Examples," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90468, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    52. Tisdell, Clement A., 2007. "The Evolution and Classification of the Published Books of Clem Tisdell: A Brief Overview," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90548, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    53. Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "Tourism as a Contributor to the Economic Diversification and Development of Small States: Its Strengths, Weaknesses and Potential for Brunei," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90514, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Celli, Fabio, 2022. "Feature Engineering for Quantitative Analysis of Cultural Evolution," SocArXiv aj8xk, Center for Open Science.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tisdell, Clement A. & Svizzero, Serge, 2019. "Economic Theory, Phoenician Pre-coinage External Trade, Changes in the Economic Surplus and its Appropriation - An Initial Perspective," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 291441, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2016. "Different Behavioral Explanations of the Neolithic Transition from Foraging to Agriculture: A Review," Working Papers hal-02147758, HAL.
    3. Tisdell, Clem & Svizzero, Serge, 2015. "The Failure of Neoclassical Economics Modelling and Human Behavioural Ecology to Satisfactorily Explain the Evolution of Neolithic Society," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 197550, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    4. Serge Svizzero & Clement Allan Tisdell, 2015. "The Role of Palatial Economic Organization in Creating Wealth in Minoan and Mycenaean States," Working Papers hal-02150102, HAL.
    5. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2015. "Rent Extraction, Population Growth and Economic Development: Development Despite Malthus’ Theory and Precursors to the Industrial Revolution," Working Papers hal-02150103, HAL.
    6. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2015. "The Collapse of Some Ancient Societies Due to Unsustainable Mining Development," Working Papers hal-02152043, HAL.
    7. Svizzero, Serge & Tisdell, Clem, 2014. "Inequality and Wealth Creation in Ancient History: Malthus' Theory Reconsidered," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 183285, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "The Excitement and Value of Discovering Tourism Economics: Clem Tisdell's Journey," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90631, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    9. Serge Svizzero & Clem Tisdell, 2014. "Theories About the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation," Rivista di storia economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 3, pages 255-280.
    10. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "Agricultural Development in Traditional Asian Economies: Observations Prompted by a Livestock Study in Vietnam," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90629, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    11. Tisdell, Clement A. & Lapar, Ma. Lucila A. & Staal, Steven J. & Que, Nguyen Ngoc, 2009. "Natural Protection from International Competition in the Livestock Industry: Analysis, Examples and Vietnam's Pork Market as a Case," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90628, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    12. Clem Tisdell, 2009. "Economic Reform and Openness in China: China’s Development Policies in the Last 30 Years," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 271-294, September.
    13. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Trends in Vietnam's Pork Supply and Structural Features of its Pig Sector," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90623, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    14. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Economic Challenges Faced by Small Island Economies: An Overview," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90627, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    15. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "The Survival of Small-scale Agricultural Producers in Asia, particularly Vietnam: General Issues Illustrated by Vietnam's Agricultural Sector, especially its Pig Production," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90625, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    16. Alauddin, Mohammad & Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Quantitative Impacts of Teaching Attributes on University TEVAL Scores and their Implications," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90621, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    17. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Economic Benefits and Drawbacks of Cities and their Growth Implications," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90626, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    18. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Thirty Years of Economic Reform and Openness in China: Retrospect and Prospect," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90620, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    19. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Economics, Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90618, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    20. Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "Trust and its Implications for Economic Activity, Welfare and Globalisation," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90617, University of Queensland, School of Economics.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02274856. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.