2008/04/25 by Peter Groenewegen · 1 citation
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Merger and Competition Analysis
paper · doi:10.1057/9780230226203.0401
openalex publication_date 2008/04/25 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/02/24
Division of labour has been a very important topic for economic writings from the earliest times, and was treated in great detail by major economists, including especially Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall. This article surveys the development of ‘division of labour’ from its beginnings in the writings of Greek philosophers through the centuries and up to the 21st century. It therefore also reflects on its offshoots: international division of labour, sexual division of labour and its contemporary revival as an essential adjunct to the theory of economic growth, labour productivity, inter-firm cooperation, and its modern limits in coordination and communication costs.