MONOPOLY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURY GREAT BRITAIN

Abstract

Previously, there have been few attempts to explore fully the concept of monopoly as it existed prior to the eighteenth century. The concept of monopoly as presently defined, namely that situation where there exists only one seller in the market, could not be applied evenly to monopolies existing in sixteenth and seventeenth century Great Britain. As Joseph Schumpeter pointed out, there existed the “tendency to extend the concept of monopoly beyond the case of a single seller.” In addition, monopoly as a tool of public policy proved to be ineffective. Not only was the Crown inconsistent in its treatment of monopoly, but public opinion was against any policy that appeared to impinge upon the rights of Englishmen as defined by Common Law.

Citation

CAPEN, M. (1978), "MONOPOLY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURY GREAT BRITAIN", Studies in Economics and Finance, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb028600