Editing British Agricultural Revolution (section)

===Development of a national market===
Regional markets were widespread by 1500 with about 800 locations in Britain. The most important development between the 16th century and the mid-19th century was private marketing. By the 19th century, marketing was nationwide, and the vast majority of agricultural production was for market rather than for the farmer and his family. The 16th-century market radius was about 10 miles, which could support a town of 10,000.<ref>{{Harvnb|Overton|1996|pp=134–6}}</ref>
  
The next stage of development was trading between markets, requiring merchants, credit and forward sales, knowledge of markets and pricing and of supply and demand in different markets. Eventually, the market evolved into a national one driven by London and other growing cities. By 1700, there was a national market for wheat.

Legislation regulating middlemen required registration, addressed weights and measures, fixing of prices and collection of tolls by the government. Market regulations were eased in 1663 when people were allowed some self-regulation to hold inventory, but it was forbidden to withhold [[Commodity|commodities]] from the market in an effort to increase prices. In the late 18th century, the idea of self-regulation was gaining acceptance.<ref>{{Harvnb|Overton|1996|pp=135, 145}}</ref> The lack of internal tariffs, customs barriers and feudal tolls made Britain "the largest coherent market in Europe".<ref>
{{cite book
|title=The Unbound Prometheus: Technological Change and Industrial Development in Western Europe from 1750 to the Present
 |last=Landes
 |first= David. S.
|author-link=David Landes
|year= 1969|publisher =Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge
|location= Cambridge, New York
|isbn=  978-0-521-09418-4|pages=46
}}
</ref>