Larry Shute asks for a list of the basic institutions. I would define an
"institution" as any organization created by people.
1) capitalism (the "capitalist mode of production"), a macro-societal
institution that includes:
a) markets.
Not only are there major institutions within these markets (corporations,
oligopolies, etc.) but markets themselves have human-created rules and
mechanisms. Markets _are_ institutions. One problem with NC econ. is that
they treat markets as somehow being natural rather than creations of human
beings.
b) the state & political organizations.
The separation of the state from the rest of society into being a
specialized sector is a key factor differentiating capitalism from other
modes of production. Similar to the state in many ways, but acting in a
decentralized way are:
c) not-for-profit organizations, including industry self-regulation
organizations. (For the life of me, I don't get why these play little or no
role in econ. textbooks. My life is surrounded by them.)
d) imperialism (the globalizing drive of capitalism. maybe not an
institution itself).
Bureaucracies are very important institutions in corporations, the state,
political organizations, and not-for-profits. They also play a role in:
2) labor unions & informal labor organizations.
3) patriarchy: this a long-lived system of male privilege that precedes
capitalism and has so far persisted in post-capitalist societies
(bureaucratic socialism).
4) ethnic or racial domination.
Cutting institutions a different way (following and adding to Robert
Heilbroner), one can think of 4 major ways that people organize themselves:
1) tradition, custom, convention. (The role of custom is being accepted
more and more by economists these days. A colleague of mine just told me of
one at the University of Chicago's economics department who emphasizes the
role of customs.)
2) command, bureaucracy, top-down rule.
3) markets, competition.
4) democracy, bottom-up rule.
It reveals a lot about Heilbroner that he missed the last one (and that
many economists have followed him on this). In personal communication,
however, he did indicate that he was willing to accept #4 as a friendly
amendment.
in pen-l solidarity,
Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://clawww.lmu.edu/1997F/ECON/jdevine.html
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ.
7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
"The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists. They're too damned greedy."
-- Herbert Hoover
