Power in a Theory of the Firm

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1998
Volume: 113
Issue: 2
Pages: 387-432

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Transactions take place in the firm rather than in the market because the firm offers power to agents who make specific investments. Past literature emphasizes the allocation of ownership as the primary mechanism by which the firm does this. Within the contractibility assumptions of this literature, we identify a potentially superior mechanism, the regulation of access to critical resources. Access can be better than ownership because (i) the power agents get from access is more contingent on their making the right investment and (ii) ownership has adverse effects on the incentive to specialize. The theory explains the importance of internal organization and third-party ownership.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:113:y:1998:i:2:p:387-432.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29