略论近代早期英国商人亲属关系网络的作用

The Role of the Merchants' Kinship Network in Early Modern England

社会关系网络在经济生活中扮演何种角色一向为人所忽视。本文以近代早期英国为例,探讨亲属关系网络在商人经商过程中所起的作用。这些作用表现在积累资金、培训学徒、规避风险、垄断市场等方面,归结为一点就是建立并巩固商业联系。亲属关系在商人经商中的作用表明,一定社会关系所产生的信任在经济生活中发挥着重要作用。

The role of social relation network in economic activities has been ignored by scholars. There is undoubtedly something in common between the vital significance of the merchants and the merchants＇ kinship network in early modem England, the important role of which included accumulating capital, training apprentices, avoiding risk, cornering market, etc. Through the merchants＇ kinship network commercial links could be developed and intensified. All these shows the social relation network is indispensable to the economic activity.