EAEPE

[C] Institutional Change

Coordinators:	Paolo Ramazzotti University of Macerata, Italy ramazzotti@unimc.it
	Alexander Lascaux Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy Russia & University of Hertfordshire, UK alexlascaux@yahoo.com

Institutional change is a broad theme and a topic that does not have a commonly accepted definition. It is thus no wonder that a great many papers regularly presented at the EAEPE Conferences are related to it. Differences relate to a range of issues, among which the most important include:

• The nature/definition of institutions, i.e. how institutions relate to concepts such as norms, rules, laws, conventions and organisations.
• The relation between institutions and the economy: do institutions complement a conceptually distinct economic system or do they determine the economy’s very nature? Is it possible and important to distinguish between economic and non-economic institutions? Must institutions comply with economic requirements or could it be that it is the economy that should meet some institutional requirements?
• The nature of institutional change: to what extent is it determined by purposeful action? Is the outcome intentional or unintentional? Is the process linear or cumulative?
• Who are the actors of change: are they individuals or collectives? Do they pursue sectional or general interests?

RA-C welcomes contributions from different perspectives, in terms of the methodological and theoretical approaches followed (Original Institutionalist, Post-Keynesian, Marxist, Neo-Schumpeterian, Austrian, New Institutionalist, etc.), in terms of the type and methodology of inquiry carried out (historical, statistical, game-theoretical, system-dynamic, etc.) and in terms of disciplinary intersections (psychological, sociological, philosophical, etc.). The coordinators are particularly in favour of contributions that provide insights on the issues outlined above so as to enhance scientific dialogue within different strands of thought.

Please do not hesitate to contact one of the coordinators if you have any suggestions.