Governance of Adjustments

The article proposes a research program to compare game forms in terms of their ability to govern ex post adjustments to ex ante contracts. The comparisons can be based on direct implementation-costs or the extent to which desirable adj...

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Main Author: Wernerfelt, Birger
Format: Working Paper
Language:en_US
Published: 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/1836
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author Wernerfelt, Birger
author_facet Wernerfelt, Birger
author_sort Wernerfelt, Birger
collection MIT
description The article proposes a research program to compare game forms in terms of their ability to govern ex post adjustments to ex ante contracts. The comparisons can be based on direct implementation-costs or the extent to which desirable adjustments are not implemented. In several examples of the program, we compare three game forms: Negotiation over each adjustment, ex ante price lists, and implicit contracts leaving the stipulation of adjustments to one player. If the latter game form is defined as an employment relationship, the theory of the firm becomes a special case of the program. The article starts with a discussion of the nature and magnitude of adjustment-costs, followed by an exposition of four examples. We then discuss the role of asset ownership, review some empirical evidence, and look at broader implications.
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spelling mit-1721.1/18362019-04-09T16:04:47Z Governance of Adjustments Wernerfelt, Birger Theory of the Firm Employment Relationship Contracts The article proposes a research program to compare game forms in terms of their ability to govern ex post adjustments to ex ante contracts. The comparisons can be based on direct implementation-costs or the extent to which desirable adjustments are not implemented. In several examples of the program, we compare three game forms: Negotiation over each adjustment, ex ante price lists, and implicit contracts leaving the stipulation of adjustments to one player. If the latter game form is defined as an employment relationship, the theory of the firm becomes a special case of the program. The article starts with a discussion of the nature and magnitude of adjustment-costs, followed by an exposition of four examples. We then discuss the role of asset ownership, review some empirical evidence, and look at broader implications. 2003-03-14T19:02:32Z 2003-03-14T19:02:32Z 2003-03-14T19:02:32Z Working Paper http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/1836 en_US MIT Sloan School of Management Working Paper;4412-03 226315 bytes application/pdf application/pdf
spellingShingle Theory of the Firm
Employment Relationship
Contracts
Wernerfelt, Birger
Governance of Adjustments
title Governance of Adjustments
title_full Governance of Adjustments
title_fullStr Governance of Adjustments
title_full_unstemmed Governance of Adjustments
title_short Governance of Adjustments
title_sort governance of adjustments
topic Theory of the Firm
Employment Relationship
Contracts
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/1836
work_keys_str_mv AT wernerfeltbirger governanceofadjustments