The Political Theory of the Firm

Oxford Handbook of Business-Government Relations David Coen, Wyn Grant and Graham Wilson, eds.

17 Pages Posted: 20 May 2009

See all articles by David M. Hart

David M. Hart

Schar School of Policy and Government; Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Date Written: December 31, 2008

Abstract

The political theory of the firm provides the conceptual framework for understanding what firms are doing and what it means for the polities in which they operate. This essay proceeds by explicating each of the three theories – unitary rational actor, nexus of contracts, and behavioral. Within each of these sections I offer a brief assessment of the empirical findings and opportunities associated with the theory at hand and of its limits. I conclude with a synthesis.

Keywords: business-government relations, lobbying, theory of the firm

JEL Classification: L50, H1, P17

Suggested Citation

Hart, David M., The Political Theory of the Firm (December 31, 2008). Oxford Handbook of Business-Government Relations David Coen, Wyn Grant and Graham Wilson, eds., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1406640

David M. Hart (Contact Author)

Schar School of Policy and Government ( email )

Founders Hall, Fifth Floor
3351 Fairfax Drive, MS 3B1
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ( email )

701 K St., NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC District of Columbia 20001
United States

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