Les mécanismes sociaux d'une perpétuation économique : les papetiers auvergnats à l'époque moderne

Abstract

The longevity of many pre-industrial manufacturing centres is remarkable, often stretching over several centuries. The most interesting cases are those that are not the result of such particular circumstances as the presence of unique resources, strategic location, or royal privilege. A long period of economic maturity should be seen as a distinct economic phase rather than a hiatus between expansion and decline. It fostered entrepreneurial strategies intended to mitigate the economic uncertainties of the early modern period and cultivate the flexibility of existing social structures.