Dyads, Triads, and the Theory of Exchange: Between Liberty and Coercion

26 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2012

See all articles by Marta Podemska-Mikluch

Marta Podemska-Mikluch

Gustavus Adolphus College

Richard E. Wagner

George Mason University - Department of Economics; George Mason University - Mercatus Center

Date Written: April 4, 2012

Abstract

Economists commonly use the Edgeworth box to illustrate the ability of exchange to generate gains from trade. In contrast to this framework of dyadic exchange, we explore triadic forms of exchange where margins of coercion are also present. In the presence of triadic exchange, market transactions are no longer wholly voluntary and instead reflect an admixture of liberty and coercion. We illustrate triadic exchange in the context of credit markets, showing how continual turbulence is a sign of neither market failure nor government-failure but is rather a systemic quality of triadic exchange as a system of societal governance.

Keywords: Edgeworth box, dyadic exchange, triadic exchange, coercive exchange, credit markets as coercive exchange, conflict and political economy

JEL Classification: D23, D51, D74, D86, P16

Suggested Citation

Podemska-Mikluch, Marta and Wagner, Richard E., Dyads, Triads, and the Theory of Exchange: Between Liberty and Coercion (April 4, 2012). GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 12-13, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2034305 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2034305

Marta Podemska-Mikluch (Contact Author)

Gustavus Adolphus College ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.podemska.com

Richard E. Wagner

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

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(703) 993-1132 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://mason.gmu.edu/~rwagner/

George Mason University - Mercatus Center ( email )

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Arlington, VA 22201
United States

HOME PAGE: http://ppe.mercatus.org/scholars/richard-wagner

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