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Edith Penrose: Seeing into the “Insides” of the Firm

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  • Richard N. Langlois

    (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

Edith Penrose was far from underappreciated in management theory, where she was considered the inspiration for more than one research program. But she was virtually unknown in economics, the discipline in which she was trained and in which she considered herself to be working. This essay chronicles the life and work of Edith Penrose. It examines the streams of thought she influenced – and didn’t influence. As a special bonus, the essay also considers another underappreciated economist, George Richardson, who built on Penrose’s work and overcame some of its limitations. Following Brian Loasby, the essay ultimately argues for understanding Penrose and Richardson as industrial organization economists in the tradition of Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard N. Langlois, 2024. "Edith Penrose: Seeing into the “Insides” of the Firm," Working papers 2024-05, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2024-05
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B25 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian; Stockholm School
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • B53 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Austrian
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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