Institutional Economics

Reviews / Votes

'The book is a milestone in providing theoretical illustration of the immense practical, social and economic importance of the subject matter. . . . The book is particularly strong on systematically combining different societal phenomena (such as organizations, institutions, markets, systems, order, collective actions, culture and policy), dealt with conventionally by such different disciplines as social, behavioural, management and economic sciences. . . . The didactical format of the book is well designed and structured and useful to scholars. Each chapter starts with an outlook on its main contents. In all chapters key concepts are discussed. At the end of every chapter, questions for review are given which sometimes draw the reader's attention to some examples from the real world.' -- Frank Hartwich, Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture 'It is simply not possible to summarise the richness of this book. Each chapter ends with key questions to facilitate revision and an extensive bibliography will stimulate seminar papers. Kasper and Streit's Institutional Economics has come along at a time when it is sorely needed for curriculum changes that are essential if economics is to flourish as a discipline so that an ample supply of economists is available to push forward economic development in all its aspects. The reasonably priced paperback edition should be leaping off bookstore shelves.' -- Helen Hughes, Economic Record 'Kasper and Streit have provided an authoritative survey of the present status of the field, and there are few students today who would not profit from a careful study of this text.' -- E.G. Furubotn, Journal of Economics/Zeitschrift fur Nationalokonomie '. . . a path-breaking, systematic text that develops institutional theory from fundamental tenets about human nature and then applies it to contemporary economic analysis. This book will therefore allow teachers to introduce evolutionary and institutional economics without having to rely on dispersed and sometimes hard-to-access literature. . . . Institutional Economics presents an accessible introduction to one of the hottest areas of contemporary economic policy analysis and social philosophy . . . One does not have to be an economist to enjoy this important book. I recommend it most warmly to economists and noneconomists, to students and experienced old-timers alike.' -- Gerard Radnitzky, Cato Journal 'Kasper and Streit bring coherence to what can easily appear a sprawling and diverse literature. Though rigorous in the attention it gives to theoretical and philosophical foundations, the book succeeds in making clear at every turn the immense practical social and economic importance of the subject matter. Students should find their enthusiasm for economics rekindled by this stimulating book.' -- Martin Ricketts, University of Buckingham, UK '. . . a work rich in its understanding of, and appreciation for, the institutional framework of modern economies.' -- R.B. Emmett, Choice 'Institutional economics has risen as a sort of sub-field in economics without most economists knowing - or at least agreeing as to - what it entails. At last, we have a clear and comprehensive text that defines and explicates this new "hot subject".' -- Dennis C. Mueller, Universitat Wien, Austria 'A solid and much needed book, that is comprehensive in coverage, elementary in exposition, and relevant in applications. Modern institutional economics has, indeed "come of age" when its central elements can be so coherently packaged. It now becomes possible to point inquiring potential readers to this book rather than to a whole subliterature.' -- James M. Buchanan, George Mason University, US 'The new institutionalism is a great improvement over the old. This book is a very well designed elementary text in the field that could be used in undergraduate courses, and in fact, any economist who is not up to the latest development in this area would find it worthwhile reading.' -- Gordon Tullock, George Mason University, US