Inspired by comments made by Allen (2017), Lueck (2017), Ménard (2017) and Smith
(2017), this response clarifies and deepens the analysis in Arruñada (2017a). Its main
argument is that to deal with the complexity of property we must abstract secondary
elements, such as the physical dimensions of some types of assets, and focus on the
interaction between transactions. This sequential-exchange framework captures the main
problem of property in the current environment of impersonal markets. It also ...
Inspired by comments made by Allen (2017), Lueck (2017), Ménard (2017) and Smith
(2017), this response clarifies and deepens the analysis in Arruñada (2017a). Its main
argument is that to deal with the complexity of property we must abstract secondary
elements, such as the physical dimensions of some types of assets, and focus on the
interaction between transactions. This sequential-exchange framework captures the main
problem of property in the current environment of impersonal markets. It also provides
criteria to compare private and public ordering, as well as to organize public solutions that
enable new forms of private ordering. The analysis applies the lessons in Coase (1960) to
property by not only comparing realities but also maintaining his separate treatment of the
definition of property rights and transaction costs. However, it replaces his contractual,
single-exchange, framework for one in which contracts interact, causing exchange
externalities.
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