Toshiaki Tamaki – författare

In this book, Toshiaki Tamaki analyses merchant and entrepreneurial activity from ancient times to the twenty-first century, arguing that these intermediaries drive global market expansion and institutional development, as they help to connect distant regions and reduce information asymmetry.

The book begins by framing global economic history through the lens of Homo mobilis (the mobile human) and Homo faber (the fabricating human). It argues that global trade cannot be understood fully without considering how merchants help markets expand through the transmission of information, trust, reputation and commercial knowledge. The book then contextualises this argument through a global survey of trading empires, exploring how merchants and intermediaries profit not through ownership of goods but through the act of exchange. This long-term narrative spans from Mesopotamian traders to Phoenician seafarers to Asian shipping agents and even the global logistics giants of today. Through this survey, readers gain a deeper understanding of how information, trust and circulation – not just production – have shaped the global economy.

Offering a compelling alternative to static economic models and supply-side theories, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of global history, economic history and the history of capitalism.

In this book, Toshiaki Tamaki analyses merchant and entrepreneurial activity from ancient times to the twenty-first century, arguing that these intermediaries drive global market expansion and institutional development, as they help to connect distant regions and reduce information asymmetry.

The book begins by framing global economic history through the lens of Homo mobilis (the mobile human) and Homo faber (the fabricating human). It argues that global trade cannot be understood fully without considering how merchants help markets expand through the transmission of information, trust, reputation and commercial knowledge. The book then contextualises this argument through a global survey of trading empires, exploring how merchants and intermediaries profit not through ownership of goods but through the act of exchange. This long-term narrative spans from Mesopotamian traders to Phoenician seafarers to Asian shipping agents and even the global logistics giants of today. Through this survey, readers gain a deeper understanding of how information, trust and circulation – not just production – have shaped the global economy.

Offering a compelling alternative to static economic models and supply-side theories, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of global history, economic history and the history of capitalism.

This book compares two countries with striking parallels in economic and political outcomes, yet with some distinct features in terms of institutional structures, relative size, and culture. Therefore, this book forms a fruitful platform for the study of the similarities and differences in the economic and societal development of Japan and Finland. Despite their geographic distance from one another and the aforementioned differences, both countries experienced rather similar economic and societal development patterns after the Second World War. The study of these societies both individually and through commonalities will provide a unique perspective on the emergence of modern economies and institutions.

The book provides comprehensive coverage on issues such as welfare state formation and society, security and military spending, education system, industrial development, international trade, governmental economic policies, energy solutions, and bubbles and their collapse; thus, issues typical for these countries, as well as most modern states, studied from a longitudinal perspective.

The book aims to answer a fundamental question in social science: Why do there seem to be common trends and developmental paths among countries differing in size, culture, and economic structure? This book will provide insights for those seeking to decipher how the developments in their own countries came about and where they may be headed to.