Commodity Trading Companies in the First Global Economy, 1870-1914

This two-day event takes place in Rotterdam on the 3^rd and 4^th of February 2017 and is organised in conjunction with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Industrialisation and economic liberalism caused steep growth of the international trade in commodities during the First Global Economy. Trading companies shaped the emergent global value chains of a wide range of commodities such as minerals, metals and food stuffs. As risk takers, information gatherers and arbitrageurs, these companies not only shaped global value chains but also contributed to the integration of markets and the convergence of prices. However, as markets integrated, price spreads fell, reducing the trader’s margins. Moreover, the first global economy witnessed the birth of the vertically integrated, multinational enterprise, in many instances replacing the role and services of merchants and trading companies. The workshop brings together scholars from across the globe to discuss and compare the fate of commodity trading companies during the 19^th and early 20^th century.

For the programme and a full overview of the speakers, click here to download