Subcontracting in commercial and residential construction: an empirical investigation

Nicola Costantino, Roberto Pietroforte and Peter Hamill

Construction Management and Economics, 2001, vol. 19, issue 4, 439-447

Abstract: Some twenty years ago Robert Eccles argued for the theoretical existence of the quasifirm, a semi-integrated form of production in the construction industry, following a field study of home building firms in the USA. The study was aimed at substantiating some aspects of Williamson's transaction cost theory. The present work has similar intents, and illustrates the results of two recent field studies of homebuilders and commercial contractors, and the specific features of their subcontracting practice. Given the difficulty of an effective measurement of transaction costs in construction, Williamson's concept of atmosphere is suggested to explain the different approaches observed in subcontracting.

Keywords: Quasifirm Transaction Costs Subcontracting Construction Market Homebuilders General Contractors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1080/01446190010020390

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