This article introduces the theme and the articles in this special issue of the Australian Economic History Review on mining history. It puts the subject of the articles in the context of current changes in the global mining industry and notes the themes that may be explored in further research....

This article extends transaction cost economics by looking in detail at the sharp edge of exchange processes - negotiating activities. It also contributes to the literature exploring the properties of hierarchical organisations and networks. The article suggests that networks possess the...