Lawlessness and economics : alternative modes of governance / Avinash K. Dixit.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dixit, Avinash K.

Contributor:

Blundell, Richard, Contributor.

Series:

Gorman lectures in economics.

Gorman lectures in economics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economic policy.

Corporate governance.

Contracts.

Right of property.

Corporation law.

Business enterprises--Law and legislation.

Business enterprises.

International cooperation.

Corporate governance--Developing countries.

Contracts--Developing countries.

Right of property--Developing countries.

Corporation law--Developing countries.

Business enterprises--Law and legislation--Developing countries.

Developing countries--Economic policy.

Developing countries.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (182 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

How can property rights be protected and contracts be enforced in countries where the rule of law is ineffective or absent? How can firms from advanced market economies do business in such circumstances? In Lawlessness and Economics, Avinash Dixit examines the theory of private institutions that transcend or supplement weak economic governance from the state. In much of the world and through much of history, private mechanisms--such as long-term relationships, arbitration, social networks to disseminate information and norms to impose sanctions, and for-profit enforcement services--have grown up in place of formal, state-governed institutions. Even in countries with strong legal systems, many of these mechanisms continue under the shadow of the law. Numerous case studies and empirical investigations have demonstrated the variety, importance, and merits, and drawbacks of such institutions. This book builds on these studies and constructs a toolkit of theoretical models to analyze them. The models shed new conceptual light on the different modes of governance, and deepen our understanding of the interaction of the alternative institutions with each other and with the government's law. For example, one model explains the limit on the size of social networks and illuminates problems in the transition to more formal legal systems as economies grow beyond this limit. Other models explain why for-profit enforcement is inefficient. The models also help us understand why state law dovetails with some non-state institutions and collides with others. This can help less-developed countries and transition economies devise better processes for the introduction or reform of their formal legal systems.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1. Economics With and Without the Law

2. Private Ordering in the Shadow of the Law

3. Relation-Based Contract Enforcement

4. Profit-Motivated Contract Enforcement

5. Private Protection of Property Rights

6. Conclusion

References

Index

The Gorman Lectures in Economics / Blundell, Richard

Notes:

"Second printing, and first paperback printing, 2007."--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [155]-161) and index.

ISBN:

9786613303332

9781283303330

1283303337

9781400841370

1400841372

OCLC:

758334120