The Hanseatic League and the Concept of Functional Overlapping Competing Jurisdictions

Summary I explore the medieval phenomenon of the H anseatic L eague. I use the concept of functional overlapping competing jurisdictions ( FOCJ ) discussed by F rey and E ichenberger (1996, 1999, 2000) as framework for my analysis of the medieval association of northern E uropean traders and cities. I show that the H anseatic L eague came close to representing an example of a FOCJ . But I find that in contrast to the FOCJ outlined by F rey and E ichenberger the polycentric H anseatic L eague as an inter‐regional structure lacked the characteristic of a jurisdiction. It was not a political authority with the power to tax and regulate its members. The arrangements between the members of the H anseatic L eague therefore had to be self‐enforcing. Building on my investigation of the H anseatic L eague, I further provide a general discussion of the costs and benefits of a central political authority in a system of functional overlapping competing units.