This book presents the economic heartbeat and institutional details that shaped Athenian society during the Classical period (508-323 BCE), employing an innovative and outside-the-box approach to studying history. It answers questions about societal structure, the roles of women, foreigners, and slaves, the transformation of their economy from agrarian to maritime, and commercially-oriented. 28 short fictional stories enliven the narrative, each accompanied by rigorous academic analysis - revealing how banking, insurance, and the Athenian drachma, the internationally accepted currency of the times, shaped their world.

Exploring the symbiotic relationship between democracy and economic evolution, the book examines the sophisticated economic institutions of ancient Athens -ranging from property rights protection to market-driven price determination, anti-profiteering measures, measures to protect the Athenian currency's trustworthiness from forgery, business and labor mentality and practices, international trade patterns, as well as the existence of a robust public sector related also to the provision of a series of public goods. In a comprehensive analysis, the book scrutinizes daily life, societal structures, and customs, addressing a variety of questions such as marriage, cuisine, attire, values, and entertainment.

Employing New Institutional Economics as a methodology, the book puts together historical evidence with institutional analysis, offering an interdisciplinary lens through economics, political science, strategy, and behavioral theory. Richly supported by ancient sources, inscriptions, and a vast modern bibliography, this work not only explains ancient Athens but also proposes its socioeconomic pattern as a guide for modern societal challenges in economic governance and democracy.

Autorentext

Emmanouil M.L. Economou is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Thessaly (Greece). Further, he is a member of the Laboratory of Economic Policy and Strategic Planning (L.E.P.S.PLAN) at the University of Thessaly and a Member of the Laboratory of Intelligence and Cyber-Security, at the Department of International and European Studies, University of Piraeus (Greece). Economou's research focuses on economic history, institutional economics, defense economics and behavioral economics. He is the author of 9 books (4 in English and 5 in Greek) and he has edited two collective volumes published by Springer. Further, Economou has published 65 papers in renowned peer-reviewed international journals and collective volumes, such as Journal of Institutional Economics, Defence and Peace Economics, European Journal of Law and Economics, Economics of Governance, Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy, Homo Oeconomicus, Sustainability, Journal of Risk and Financial Management, Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Journal of Risk and Control, etc. He often writes in Greek newspapers and wider audience journals on economic, political, historical and defense issues. Nicholas C. Kyriazis is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Economics, University of Thessaly (Greece). He served as the department's chairman between 2013 and 2015. Kyriazis holds a PhD in Economics from Bonn University (Germany). He had also been a visiting Professor at Harvard University and the University of Trier. Kyriazis has published 17 academic books in English or Greek language, 62 papers in distinguished academic journals (such as the European Journal of Law and Economics, the Journal of Institutional Economics, Defence and Peace Economics, Theory and Society and Economics of Governance) and 30 papers in book chapters (collective volumes). He has also published 26 novels in Greek and English. In 2005, the President of the French Republic honored him with France's highest decoration, the Knight of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Legion d' Honneur) for his contribution to European integration and the preparation of the EMU as a member of the Delors-Moreau committee. Previous positions he held include, among others: Directorate-General for Research of the European Parliament, advisor to the government of the National Bank of Greece, advisor to the Ministers of Finance, and Defense of Greece respectively. He is currently a vice-chairman of the Greek Quality Assessment Committee of the Legislative Drafting Process of the Hellenic Parliament. He has also published many articles in journals for wider audience, and articles in the Greek press, for economic, political and defense issues.