Trade Intermediation in Modern Age Rome- The Brokers of the River Ports of RIPA and RIPETTA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the activity of the brokers of the Roman river ports of Ripa and Ripetta in the modern age and to highlight their importance in the city's commercial mechanisms. Indeed, their function was not limited to bringing supply and demand together, but had a number of relevant tasks that lowered transaction costs and increased the overall efficiency of the Roman trading system. This research highlights some significant aspects not only of the broker’s affairs and the evolution of their relations with other economic and institutional actors, but also the intricate evolutionary path of the Roman market and the controversial behavior of the government in regulating trade.