INSTRUCTIONS:
Institutionalist economics asks economists to focus on the importance of norms and rules and the patterns of behavior caused by the resulting institutionalized behavior. Thorstein Veblen argues that firms are organizations which contain rival patterns of behavior (workmanship vs. invidious distinctions for example), while Coase and Williamson suggest that the rules and behavior patterns that exist within firms are a result of the drive to maximize profits. Explain these differing perspectives by referring to the assigned readings. Does the old institutionalism of Veblen or the new institutionalism of Coase and Williamson make the most sense to you? Explain why.