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Author	Mr 王雪昊
Organisation/Institution	East China University of Political Science and Law
Country	CHINA
Panel	Law and Society
Title	A Study on Legal Measures for Trade Safeguards in Rome —Focusing on the Edictum de Pretiis Rerum Venalium
Abstract	Regulating market behavior through legislation has existed since ancient times, though its effectiveness has varied. In the 3rd century AD, Rome faced a severe crisis. In 301, Emperor Diocletian issued the Edict of Price Fixation to stabilize commodity prices and restore economic order through legal compulsion. However, the decree failed to achieve its intended results and instead produced numerous adverse effects. The failure of the Edict of Price Limitation(Edictum de Pretiis Rerum Venalium) stemmed not only from its regulatory approach contradicting economic principles but also from the combined influence of multiple social factors. Although ineffective at the time, it pioneered the use of legal systems to regulate markets. Its underlying principles—that “justice should be upheld” and the “fair pricing principle”—profoundly influenced subsequent legislation.
Biography	Dear Professor, My name is Wang Xuehao, and I am currently pursuing my second year of academic master's studies at East China University of Political Science and Law, specializing in Foreign Legal History and Comparative Law. The paper I submitted for this conference was completed under my advisor's guidance as part of a National Social Science Fund project. This paper was previously discussed at the 2025 China National Conference on Foreign Legal History Research, and this submission represents a revised version. My current research focuses on late Roman trade legal documents and the legal history of countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.