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Economics With and Without the Law, from Lawlessness and Economics: Alternative Modes of Governance

In: Lawlessness and Economics: Alternative Modes of Governance

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  • Avinash K. Dixit

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Avinash K. Dixit, 2007. "Economics With and Without the Law, from Lawlessness and Economics: Alternative Modes of Governance," Introductory Chapters, in: Lawlessness and Economics: Alternative Modes of Governance, Princeton University Press.
  • Handle: RePEc:pup:chapts:7729-1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Cecchi, Francesco & Melesse, Mequanint Biset, 2016. "Formal law and customary change: A lab-in-field experiment in Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 67-85.
    2. Kowalski, Tadeusz, 2009. "Comparative analysis of economic transformation in Poland and selected central European countries," MPRA Paper 16610, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2011.
    3. DeAngelo, Gregory & Humphreys, Brad R. & Reimers, Imke, 2017. "Are public and private enforcement complements or substitutes? Evidence from high frequency data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 151-163.
    4. Tadeusz Kowalski, 2013. "Poland’s Long-term Macroeconomic Performance and Recent Trends: A Comparative Analysis," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(01), pages 41-56, May.
    5. Kowalski, Tadeusz, 2013. "Globalization and Transformation in Central European Countries: The Case of Poland," MPRA Paper 59306, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Sanchez-Ruiz, Paul & Wood, Matthew S. & Michaelis, Timothy L. & Suarez, Jaime, 2023. "Entrepreneurs as prime targets: Insights from Mexican ventures on the link between venture visibility and crime of varying severity," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(6).
    7. Ferrante, Livio & Reito, Francesco & Spagano, Salvatore & Torrisi, Gianpiero, 2021. "Shall we follow the money? Anti-mafia policies and electoral competition," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 1110-1130.
    8. Tadeusz Kowalski, 2013. "Poland’s Long-term Macroeconomic Performance and Recent Trends: A Comparative Analysis," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(1), pages 41-56, May.
    9. Kløve, Eva & Mehlum, Halvor, 2017. "The Firm and the self-enforcing dynamics of crime and protection," Memorandum 06/2017, Oslo University, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    property rights; contracts; law; business; economic governance; private mechanisms; arbitration; social networks; norms; sanctions; reform;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K00 - Law and Economics - - General - - - General (including Data Sources and Description)

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