How Did Markets Manage Measurement Issues? Lessons from 19th Century Britain

Aashish Velkar (London School of Economcis)

Abstract: This paper examines how historical markets and institutions managed measurement issues. The paper makes a distinction between metrology (the science or systems of measurements) and mensuration (the activity or process of measurements), and argues that while historical metrology has been studied, few studies of mensuration practices exist. The main argument made here is that, historically, managing product measurements involved managing issues of mensuration as well as metrology. Focussing on the latter, this research uses three historical case studies of mensuration practices to make the following points. A standardized metrological system (i.e. a system of weights and measures) did not eliminate the need to have functioning market institutions that could manage this aspect of transactions. Institutions influenced the product attributes that were measured, the manner in which measurements were made, and the metrological standards that were used to make the measurements. Mensuration practices could be considered as ‘institutional packages’ that were comprised of standardized processes, measurement instruments, standards of comparison, and the rules and conventions that managed product measurements.


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