Jean-Michel Glachant

England's wholesale electricity market: could this hybrid institutional arrangement be transposed to the European Union?1

Abstract Has the Electricity Pool of England and Wales substituted a market for an integrated firm as an internal coordination device within the U.K. electricity industry? Using a transaction-cost approach, we show that the market mechanism provides an incomplete governance for wholesale-electricity transactions. The competitive price mechanism is only one component of a more complex arrangement, which is a hybrid form consisting of (a) a Pooling and Settlement Agreement and (b) its governance structure. The English Electricity Pool cannot be transplanted into all other institutional environments, because the English Pools hybrid form is not entirely private but meshed with its institutional environment. In particular, the European Unions institutional environment, which does not resemble Englands, is unable to support an English-type Pool.

New Institutional Economics: List of contributors

Twenty-one papers explore the accomplishments, limitations, and unmet needs of the field of new institutional economics. Papers discuss the theories of the firm; contracts--from bilateral sets of incentives to the multilevel governance of relations; institutions and the institutional environment; human nature and institutional analysis; the case for case studies in new institutional economics; new institutional econometrics--the case of research on contracting and organization; experimental methodology to inform new institutional economics issues; game theory and institutions; new institutional economics, organization, and strategy; interfirm alliances--a new institutional economics approach; governance structure and contractual design in retail chains; make-or-buy decisions--a new institutional economics approach; transaction costs, property rights, and the tools of the new institutional economics--water rights and water markets; contracting and organization in food and agriculture; buying, lobbying, or suing--interest groups participation in policy making--a selective survey; regulation and deregulation in network industry; constitutional political economy--analyzing formal institutions at the most elementary level; new institutional economics and its application on transition and developing economies; law and economics in retrospect; the theory of the firm and its critics--a stocktaking and assessment; and the causes of institutional inefficiency--a development perspective. Brousseau is Professor of Economics at the University of Paris X and Director of EconomiX. Glachant is Professor of Economics and Head of the Electricity Reforms Group in the ADIS Research Center at the University of Paris-Sud XI. Index.

New Institutional Economics: Frontmatter

Twenty-one papers explore the accomplishments, limitations, and unmet needs of the field of new institutional economics. Papers discuss the theories of the firm; contracts--from bilateral sets of incentives to the multilevel governance of relations; institutions and the institutional environment; human nature and institutional analysis; the case for case studies in new institutional economics; new institutional econometrics--the case of research on contracting and organization; experimental methodology to inform new institutional economics issues; game theory and institutions; new institutional economics, organization, and strategy; interfirm alliances--a new institutional economics approach; governance structure and contractual design in retail chains; make-or-buy decisions--a new institutional economics approach; transaction costs, property rights, and the tools of the new institutional economics--water rights and water markets; contracting and organization in food and agriculture; buying, lobbying, or suing--interest groups participation in policy making--a selective survey; regulation and deregulation in network industry; constitutional political economy--analyzing formal institutions at the most elementary level; new institutional economics and its application on transition and developing economies; law and economics in retrospect; the theory of the firm and its critics--a stocktaking and assessment; and the causes of institutional inefficiency--a development perspective. Brousseau is Professor of Economics at the University of Paris X and Director of EconomiX. Glachant is Professor of Economics and Head of the Electricity Reforms Group in the ADIS Research Center at the University of Paris-Sud XI. Index.

New Institutional Economics: List of tables

Twenty-one papers explore the accomplishments, limitations, and unmet needs of the field of new institutional economics. Papers discuss the theories of the firm; contracts--from bilateral sets of incentives to the multilevel governance of relations; institutions and the institutional environment; human nature and institutional analysis; the case for case studies in new institutional economics; new institutional econometrics--the case of research on contracting and organization; experimental methodology to inform new institutional economics issues; game theory and institutions; new institutional economics, organization, and strategy; interfirm alliances--a new institutional economics approach; governance structure and contractual design in retail chains; make-or-buy decisions--a new institutional economics approach; transaction costs, property rights, and the tools of the new institutional economics--water rights and water markets; contracting and organization in food and agriculture; buying, lobbying, or suing--interest groups participation in policy making--a selective survey; regulation and deregulation in network industry; constitutional political economy--analyzing formal institutions at the most elementary level; new institutional economics and its application on transition and developing economies; law and economics in retrospect; the theory of the firm and its critics--a stocktaking and assessment; and the causes of institutional inefficiency--a development perspective. Brousseau is Professor of Economics at the University of Paris X and Director of EconomiX. Glachant is Professor of Economics and Head of the Electricity Reforms Group in the ADIS Research Center at the University of Paris-Sud XI. Index.

New Institutional Economics: Acknowledgements

Twenty-one papers explore the accomplishments, limitations, and unmet needs of the field of new institutional economics. Papers discuss the theories of the firm; contracts--from bilateral sets of incentives to the multilevel governance of relations; institutions and the institutional environment; human nature and institutional analysis; the case for case studies in new institutional economics; new institutional econometrics--the case of research on contracting and organization; experimental methodology to inform new institutional economics issues; game theory and institutions; new institutional economics, organization, and strategy; interfirm alliances--a new institutional economics approach; governance structure and contractual design in retail chains; make-or-buy decisions--a new institutional economics approach; transaction costs, property rights, and the tools of the new institutional economics--water rights and water markets; contracting and organization in food and agriculture; buying, lobbying, or suing--interest groups participation in policy making--a selective survey; regulation and deregulation in network industry; constitutional political economy--analyzing formal institutions at the most elementary level; new institutional economics and its application on transition and developing economies; law and economics in retrospect; the theory of the firm and its critics--a stocktaking and assessment; and the causes of institutional inefficiency--a development perspective. Brousseau is Professor of Economics at the University of Paris X and Director of EconomiX. Glachant is Professor of Economics and Head of the Electricity Reforms Group in the ADIS Research Center at the University of Paris-Sud XI. Index.

New Institutional Economics: Index

Twenty-one papers explore the accomplishments, limitations, and unmet needs of the field of new institutional economics. Papers discuss the theories of the firm; contracts--from bilateral sets of incentives to the multilevel governance of relations; institutions and the institutional environment; human nature and institutional analysis; the case for case studies in new institutional economics; new institutional econometrics--the case of research on contracting and organization; experimental methodology to inform new institutional economics issues; game theory and institutions; new institutional economics, organization, and strategy; interfirm alliances--a new institutional economics approach; governance structure and contractual design in retail chains; make-or-buy decisions--a new institutional economics approach; transaction costs, property rights, and the tools of the new institutional economics--water rights and water markets; contracting and organization in food and agriculture; buying, lobbying, or suing--interest groups participation in policy making--a selective survey; regulation and deregulation in network industry; constitutional political economy--analyzing formal institutions at the most elementary level; new institutional economics and its application on transition and developing economies; law and economics in retrospect; the theory of the firm and its critics--a stocktaking and assessment; and the causes of institutional inefficiency--a development perspective. Brousseau is Professor of Economics at the University of Paris X and Director of EconomiX. Glachant is Professor of Economics and Head of the Electricity Reforms Group in the ADIS Research Center at the University of Paris-Sud XI. Index.

The Economics of Contracts: Testing contract theories

Twenty-five papers survey and illustrate approaches to and applications of contract economics. Earlier versions of most of the papers were published in special issue no. 92 of the Revue dEconomie Industrielle entitled The Economics of Contracts in Prospect and Retrospect (2000). Papers discuss the New Institutional Economics; contract and economic organization; the role of incomplete contracts in self-enforcing relationships; entrepreneurship, transaction cost economics, and the design of contracts; the contract as economic trade; contract theory and theories of contract regulation; economic reasoning and the framing of contract law; a transaction cost approach to the analysis of property rights; transaction costs and incentive theory; norms and the theory of the firm; allocating decision rights under liquidity constraints; complexity and contract; authority, as flexibility, at the core of labor contracts; positive agency theory; the econometrics of contracts; experiments on moral hazard and incentives; residual claims and self-enforcement as incentive mechanisms in franchise contracts; the quasi-judicial role of large retailers; interconnection agreements in telecommunications networks; licensing in the chemical industry; intercompany agreements and EC competition law; incentive contracts in utility regulation; the performance of different contractual arrangements for water supply in France; lessons from international electricity sector reforms; and a transactions cost perspective on electricity sector restructuring and competition. Brousseau is at the University of Paris X and a member of the Institute Universitaire de France. Glanchant is at the University of Paris XI. Bibliography; name and subject indexes.

The Economics of Contracts: Policy issues: anti-trust and regulation of public utilities

Twenty-five papers survey and illustrate approaches to and applications of contract economics. Earlier versions of most of the papers were published in special issue no. 92 of the Revue dEconomie Industrielle entitled The Economics of Contracts in Prospect and Retrospect (2000). Papers discuss the New Institutional Economics; contract and economic organization; the role of incomplete contracts in self-enforcing relationships; entrepreneurship, transaction cost economics, and the design of contracts; the contract as economic trade; contract theory and theories of contract regulation; economic reasoning and the framing of contract law; a transaction cost approach to the analysis of property rights; transaction costs and incentive theory; norms and the theory of the firm; allocating decision rights under liquidity constraints; complexity and contract; authority, as flexibility, at the core of labor contracts; positive agency theory; the econometrics of contracts; experiments on moral hazard and incentives; residual claims and self-enforcement as incentive mechanisms in franchise contracts; the quasi-judicial role of large retailers; interconnection agreements in telecommunications networks; licensing in the chemical industry; intercompany agreements and EC competition law; incentive contracts in utility regulation; the performance of different contractual arrangements for water supply in France; lessons from international electricity sector reforms; and a transactions cost perspective on electricity sector restructuring and competition. Brousseau is at the University of Paris X and a member of the Institute Universitaire de France. Glanchant is at the University of Paris XI. Bibliography; name and subject indexes.

The Economics of Contracts: Contracts, organizations, and institutions

Twenty-five papers survey and illustrate approaches to and applications of contract economics. Earlier versions of most of the papers were published in special issue no. 92 of the Revue dEconomie Industrielle entitled The Economics of Contracts in Prospect and Retrospect (2000). Papers discuss the New Institutional Economics; contract and economic organization; the role of incomplete contracts in self-enforcing relationships; entrepreneurship, transaction cost economics, and the design of contracts; the contract as economic trade; contract theory and theories of contract regulation; economic reasoning and the framing of contract law; a transaction cost approach to the analysis of property rights; transaction costs and incentive theory; norms and the theory of the firm; allocating decision rights under liquidity constraints; complexity and contract; authority, as flexibility, at the core of labor contracts; positive agency theory; the econometrics of contracts; experiments on moral hazard and incentives; residual claims and self-enforcement as incentive mechanisms in franchise contracts; the quasi-judicial role of large retailers; interconnection agreements in telecommunications networks; licensing in the chemical industry; intercompany agreements and EC competition law; incentive contracts in utility regulation; the performance of different contractual arrangements for water supply in France; lessons from international electricity sector reforms; and a transactions cost perspective on electricity sector restructuring and competition. Brousseau is at the University of Paris X and a member of the Institute Universitaire de France. Glanchant is at the University of Paris XI. Bibliography; name and subject indexes.

The Economics of Contracts: Frontmatter

Twenty-five papers survey and illustrate approaches to and applications of contract economics. Earlier versions of most of the papers were published in special issue no. 92 of the Revue dEconomie Industrielle entitled The Economics of Contracts in Prospect and Retrospect (2000). Papers discuss the New Institutional Economics; contract and economic organization; the role of incomplete contracts in self-enforcing relationships; entrepreneurship, transaction cost economics, and the design of contracts; the contract as economic trade; contract theory and theories of contract regulation; economic reasoning and the framing of contract law; a transaction cost approach to the analysis of property rights; transaction costs and incentive theory; norms and the theory of the firm; allocating decision rights under liquidity constraints; complexity and contract; authority, as flexibility, at the core of labor contracts; positive agency theory; the econometrics of contracts; experiments on moral hazard and incentives; residual claims and self-enforcement as incentive mechanisms in franchise contracts; the quasi-judicial role of large retailers; interconnection agreements in telecommunications networks; licensing in the chemical industry; intercompany agreements and EC competition law; incentive contracts in utility regulation; the performance of different contractual arrangements for water supply in France; lessons from international electricity sector reforms; and a transactions cost perspective on electricity sector restructuring and competition. Brousseau is at the University of Paris X and a member of the Institute Universitaire de France. Glanchant is at the University of Paris XI. Bibliography; name and subject indexes.