Just Price in the Markets

“Culture shapes economics, just as economics shapes culture. Too often these matters are studied in glorious isolation, but Charles Geisst—rightly—reveals the extent of their interdependence.”—Nicholas Morton, Engelsberg Ideas “The notion of ‘just price’ is not only a matter of concern for scholars studying the past but still inspires many social and political thinkers of our time. In this respect, Charles Geisst brings a major contribution to the field.”—Alain Bresson, author of The Making of the Ancient Greek Economy: Institutions, Markets, and Growth in the City-States “Geisst offers a sweeping historical tour of the idea of just price that should benefit scholars and students alike. But he does more than that. If in a market, online, or when opening a bill, you’ve ever thought, ‘this shouldn’t cost this price,’ this book will help you understand that sentiment and the rich and important intellectual history behind it.”—Ian Klaus, author of Forging Capitalism: Rogues, Frauds, Swindlers, and the Rise of Modern Finance “Lucid, assured, and scholarly, Geisst’s new book is an education for anyone interested in economics or finance. It maps expertly how prices have shaped, and been shaped by, the discourse of philosophers and intellectuals, as well as developments in banking and trade.”—Rory Naismith, author of Making Money in the Early Middle Ages “An incredibly important and erudite history of thought on prices, interest, credit, and market transactions across the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, early Islam, medieval Christianity, and early modern Europe.”—Jared Rubin, coauthor of How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth