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CORDIS

Embedded Markets and the Economy

Objective

EMBED takes a microeconomic approach to investigating the macroeconomic implications of market transactions being embedded in social relationships. Sociologists and economists have documented the importance of relationships for mediating trade in a wide range of market settings. EMBED seeks to investigate the implications of this for the economy as a whole.

Ethnographic work suggests that relationships foster common understandings which limit opportunistic behaviour. Subproject 1 will develop a first relational contacting theory of networked markets to capture this, and test these predictions using data from the Bundesbank. Formally modelling dynamic business-relationships, these relationships can be viewed as social capital. We will investigate whether this social capital is destroyed by economic shocks, and if so how long it takes to rebuild.

Subproject 2 will run a field experiment. We will intervene in a networked market to create new relationships in a variety of ways. The varying success of these approaches will help us better understand the role of relationships in markets. Moreover, as a result we’ll get exogenous variation in the market structure that will help identity the affects relationships have on market outcomes.

Subproject 3 will explore frictions in the clearing of networked markets. As the data requirements to empirically test between different theories are extremely demanding, laboratory experiments will be run. Breaking convention, these experiments will be protocol-free, although interactions will be closely monitored. This will create a more level playing field for testing different theories while also creating scope for the market to develop efficiency enhancing norms.

Subproject 4 will examine firm level multi-sourcing and production technology decisions, and how these feed into the creation of supply chains. The fragility of these supply chains will be investigated and equilibrium supply chains compared across countries.

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2017-STG

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Host institution

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 211 863,63
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN Cambridge
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 211 863,63

Beneficiaries (2)

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