Edward Elgar Publishing The Economics of Barter and Countertrade: 24 Articles, Dating from 1974 to 1998 (The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics series)

This authoritative collection presents the most important published articles on barter and countertrade from early scepticism to the recent sophisticated theoretical models and empirical evidence. The papers selected focus upon the policy and managerial implications of barter and countertrade and explain the reasoning behind these arrangements in an environment characterized by transaction difficulties. They demonstrate that appropriately designed transactional governance is crucial for the efficiency of successful trading relationships between different parties. The Economics of Barter and Countertrade is a timely collection due to the resurgence of barter and countertrade following the Russian and Asian financial crises. It is an essential reference source for those with an interest in trade and international economic relations. Review 'Countertrade is a more common phenomenon than many people realise, especially in East-West and North-South trade. Yet, superficially, countertrade is inefficient in comparison to monetary trade. The paradox of how an apparently inefficient trading mechanism can become so dominant attracted increasing theoretical interest in the 1970s and 1980s. The editors of this volume were amongst the intellectual leaders in the field. The literature on countertrade is quite diffuse, and the editors have performed a major service by bringing together the important contribution in a single volume. This will be an important source of reference for many years to come.' About the Author Edited by Rolf Mirus, Professor of International Business, University of Alberta, Canada and Bernard Yeung, Dean and Stephen Riady Distinguished Professor, National University of Singapore