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The History of the Concept of Transaction Costs: Neglected Aspects

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  • Klaes, Matthias

Abstract

According to the folk history of transaction costs, the concept is due to a seminal article by Ronald H. Coase, written in the 1930s. Failing to provide an operational framework, Coase's article was neglected for a long time, or so the story continues. In the 1970s, after the limits of the Arrow-Debreu paradigm had become obvious, several authors, including Oliver E. Williamson, Kenneth J. Arrow, Armen A. Alchian, and Harold Demsetz, took up the notion of transaction costs and turned it into a useful analytical tool. Partly responsible for this sudden upsurge of interest was an article by Coase in which he allegedly proposed the now famous “Coase Theorem.”

Suggested Citation

  • Klaes, Matthias, 2000. "The History of the Concept of Transaction Costs: Neglected Aspects," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 191-216, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jhisec:v:22:y:2000:i:02:p:191-216_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Łukasz Hardt, 2006. "Narodziny i ewolucja treści znaczeniowej wyrażenia „koszt transakcyjny”," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 11-12, pages 1-24.
    2. Frolov, Daniil, 2019. "From transaction costs to transaction value: Overcoming the Coase-Williamson paradigm," MPRA Paper 95959, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Panova, Anna A. (Панова, Анна), 2018. "Transaction Cost Theory: Origin and Development [Теория Трансакционнных Издержек: Логика Возникновения И Развития]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 4, pages 90-107, August.
    4. Michael Butler & Robert Garnett, 2002. "Teaching the Coase Theorem: Are We Getting It Right?," Working Papers 200202, Texas Christian University, Department of Economics.
    5. Loïc Sauce, 2017. "Market process(es) and (un)knowledge," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 305-321, September.
    6. Lukasz, Hardt, 2009. "The history of transaction cost economics and its recent developments," MPRA Paper 17989, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Richardson, Alan J. & Kilfoyle, Eksa, 2009. "Accounting in markets, hierarchies and networks: The role of accounting in the transnational governance of postal transactions," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 939-956, November.
    8. Alain Marciano, 2019. "Ronald H. Coase (1910–2013)," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Robert A. Cord (ed.), The Palgrave Companion to LSE Economics, chapter 0, pages 555-577, Palgrave Macmillan.
    9. Herbert Hovenkamp, 2011. "Coasean markets," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 63-90, February.
    10. Alain Marciano, 2011. "Ronald Coase, “The Problem of Social Cost” and The Coase Theorem: An anniversary celebration," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 1-9, February.
    11. Boldyrev, I., 2011. "Economic Methodology Today: a Review of Major Contributions," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, issue 9, pages 47-70.
    12. Nikolay A. Andreev, 2014. "On Linearity Of Transaction Costs In Order Driven Market," HSE Working papers WP BRP 38/FE/2014, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    13. Steven G. Medema, 2020. "The Coase Theorem at Sixty," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(4), pages 1045-1128, December.
    14. Tamara Todorova, 2007. "The Coase Theorem Revisited: Implications for Economic Transition," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 35(2), pages 189-201, June.
    15. Angela Ambrosino & Magda Fontana & Anna Azzurra Gigante, 2018. "Shifting Boundaries In Economics: The Institutional Cognitive Strand And The Future Of Institutional Economics," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 767-791, July.
    16. Felix J. Lopez-Iturriaga & Domingo Javier Santana-Martin, 2015. "Do Shareholder Coalitions Modify Dominant Owner's Control? The Impact On Dividend Policy," HSE Working papers WP BRP 41/FE/2015, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    17. Cuevas, Agham C., 2014. "Transaction Costs of Exchange in Agriculture: A Survey," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, June.
    18. Heindl, Peter, 2012. "Transaction costs and tradable permits: Empirical evidence from the EU emissions trading scheme," ZEW Discussion Papers 12-021, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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