Why Law, Economics, and Organization?

48 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2001

See all articles by Oliver E. Williamson

Oliver E. Williamson

University of California, Berkeley - Business & Public Policy Group

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: December 2000

Abstract

It being the case that law and economics is a success story, what are the reasons to call upon organization? Three related reasons are advanced here.

First, the orthodox theory of the firm-as-production function is self-limiting and needs, for some purposes, to be joined with the theory of the firm-as-governance structure. Organization theory makes essential contributions to that project. Second, such a move has lessons for public policy analysis. Earlier and ongoing errors in antitrust and regulation are flagged and can be avoided as a consequence. And third, the traditional approach to teaching contract in the law school is reshaped if attention is shifted away from adjudication to focus predominantly on governance - as it should be.

Suggested Citation

Williamson, Oliver E., Why Law, Economics, and Organization? (December 2000). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=255624 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.255624

Oliver E. Williamson (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - Business & Public Policy Group ( email )

545 Student Services Building
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States
510-642-8697 (Phone)
510-642-4700 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
3,138
Abstract Views
9,207
Rank
7,319
PlumX Metrics