Incomplete Contracts and Firm Boundaries: New Directions

Wouter Dessein ()

No 9019, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The seminal work by Grossman and Hart (1986) made the study of firm boundaries susceptible to formal economic analysis, and illuminated an important role for markets in providing incentives. In this essay, I discuss some new directions that the literature has taken since. As a central challenge, I identify the need to provide a formal theory of the firm in which managerial direction and bureaucratic decision-making play a key role. Merging a number of existing incomplete contracting models, I propose two approaches with very different contracting assumptions. As in transaction cost economics, a central element in those theories is the presence of a central office who directs and coordinates the actions of subordinates. More novel, I highlight the superior ability of non-integrated firms to adapt to a changing environment.

Keywords: Adaptation; Coordination; Firm boundaries; Incomplete contracts; Managerial direction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D23 D83 L23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-com, nep-his and nep-mic
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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