Productive Systems and the Structuring Role of Economic and Social Theories

Frank Wilkinson

Working Papers from Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge

Abstract: The institutions of productive systems are structured by mutual interests and relative power. Securing mutually beneficial cooperation in production requires resolving distributional differences. These objectives are secured in liberal economic theory by the working of markets which mediate the power of individuals and reward individual success. The centrality of individuals and hierarchies in market theory contrasts with developments in labour management theory which identifies group activity and decentralised responsibility as productive factors and organisations as unitary. This neglects the separate interest that productive partners have and the role of institutions in resolving conflicts in productive systems to secure productive co-operation.

Keywords: Productive systems; co-operation; liberal economics; industrial psychology; industrial sociology; collective bargaining and labour standards. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G34 J51 J53 L22 L23 M12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-pke
Note: PRO-2
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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