Global Figures: Tools for Observing and Governing Agricultural Markets (1880s-1940s)

The decline in transport and communication costs during the second half of the 19th century pushed forward the integration of local agriculture in international markets. Looking at these dynamics, historians have emphasized the ability of markets to induce structural changes and promote economic growth. At the same time, they have shown that, for farmers and consumers, these developments entailed a proliferation of intermediaries, the growing power of trusts, and a perception that the new ma..