Law and Peace: Contracts and the Success of the Danish Dairy Cooperatives

TY - JOUR

T1 - Law and Peace

T2 - Contracts and the Success of the Danish Dairy Cooperatives

AU - Henriksen, Ingrid

AU - Hviid, Morten

AU - Sharp, Paul

PY - 2012/3

Y1 - 2012/3

N2 - We consider the successful early emergence of cooperative creameries in Denmark in the late nineteenth century within the framework of the "new institutional economics" presented by Oliver Williamson. Previous work focused on the social cohesion of the Danes, but we demonstrate that this was not sufficient for their success. The Danish legal system, which we compare to that of other countries, was also of crucial importance, along with the way in which rules were monitored and enforced. Of particular interest is the Danish cooperatives' use of contracts, which we explore with evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

AB - We consider the successful early emergence of cooperative creameries in Denmark in the late nineteenth century within the framework of the "new institutional economics" presented by Oliver Williamson. Previous work focused on the social cohesion of the Danes, but we demonstrate that this was not sufficient for their success. The Danish legal system, which we compare to that of other countries, was also of crucial importance, along with the way in which rules were monitored and enforced. Of particular interest is the Danish cooperatives' use of contracts, which we explore with evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

U2 - 10.1017/s0022050711002488

DO - 10.1017/s0022050711002488

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0022-0507

VL - 72

SP - 197

EP - 224

JO - Journal of Economic History

JF - Journal of Economic History

IS - 1

ER -