OS ANTIGOS, OS NOVOS E OS NEO-INSTITUCIONALISTAS: HA CONVERGENCIA TEÓRICA NO PENSAMENTO INSTITUCIONALISTA?

Abstract

This paper tries to show that there is a clearly defined theoretical core, not always convergent, shared by the various institutionalist approaches. What distinguishes them is the definition of institufion itself, that may denote not only behavior norms but institutional forms, firm organization patterns or property rights as well. Such a differentiation, however, does not deny the theoretical contributions from each one of them. On the contrary, it establishes the very source of richness in the institutionalist thought, which has in interaction and diversity its own theoretical relevance. In this text we discuss the characteristics of the institutionalist method of analysis, some aspects of Veblen's contribution, the neoinstitutionalist "body of knowledge" and the New Economic Institution contributions from Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson.