Networked Market Intermediary: The Brokerage In Modern Guangxi (1885-1956)

The brokerage is a kind of intermediaries that promotes circulation of commodities. The brokerage has a long history in China, and its function is remarkable. Based on the theory concerned in history, regional economics and socioeconomics, this dissertation focus on the brokerage in modern Guangxi, explores its development history from a weak commercial trade to top in the business circles, and also analyzes the network constructed in its developing process. This dissertation also analyze the market network, operation network and social network which were constructed at the development process of Guangxi brokerage in modern time. The dissertation mainly includes six parts.First, the dissertation explores the development history of the brokerage in modern Guangxi, and also describes the brokerage in ancient times, the later Qing period, the beginning of the Republic, times during the Anti-Japanese War and after the Anti-Japanese War. Based on this, it points out the root cause why the brokerage in Guangxi have different characteristic in different times.Secondly, basing on the Central Place Theory of William Skinner, and according to the physical geography and human environment in Guangxi, the dissertation divides the markets into three levels: primary markets, middle markets and central markets., then analyze the development characteristic of the brokerage in such markets. At the same time, the dissertation pays close attention to the interaction of the brokerage in different kinds of markets.Thirdly, in this part, in order to illustrate operation pattern of the brokerage, the dissertation provides detailed examinations of grain markets, wood oil markets and general merchandise markets in modern Guangxi.Part four is analysis operation network of the brokerage. The dissertation at first analyzes the type of brokerage firm's organization and its size, investigates the evolution of itself-organization, and then changes the direction from the internal operation to external operation network,studying the cross-trade relationship of the brokerage.Fifthly, depend on the Social Capital Theory, this part emphatically analyzes how social networks of the brokerage in modern Guangxi. The analysis begins with the kinship and geographical relation network, probes into the brokerage's trade organization network, cross-trade organization network and collusion network between business and the Government, and then reveals a case in Wuzhou of social networks operation of the brokerage.At last, this dissertation summarizes the developments of the brokerage in modern Guangxi mainly from the two aspects of its regional characteristic and networked characteristic.