Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a framework for thinking about economic instiutions such as firms. The basic idea is that institutions arise in situations where people write incomplete contracts and where the allocation of power or control is therefore important. Power and control are not standard concepts in economic theory. The book begins by pointing out that traditional approaches cannot explain on the one hand why all transactions do not take place in one huge firm and on the other hand why firms matter at all. An incomplete contracting or property rights approach is then developed. It is argued that this approach can throw light on the boundaries of firms and on the meaning of asset ownership. In the remainder of the book, incomplete contacting ideas are applied to understand firms'' financial decisions, in particular, the nature of debt and equity (why equity has votes and creditors have foreclosure rights); the capital structure decisions of public companies; optimal bankruptcy procedure; a
Trade ReviewMr Hart provides some impressive insights. Other economists will no doubt be indebted to him. * The Economist *
I expect it to be essential reading for any economics or finance Ph.D. student interested in corporate finance ... this volume should contribute to the development of the contracts approach to corporate finance ... an excellent exposition of the incomplete contracts approach to the theory of the firm ... it is a fine survey of the author's contributions to the theory of firm boundaries and financial structure. As such, I commend it highly. * Review of Financial Studies *
...very stimulating book ... offers an excellent introduction to teh theory of incomplete contracts. Furthermore, it shows that a few fundamental ideas may be sufficient to explain a diversity of real world phenomena. It can be recommended to all those who are interested in the study of firms, markets, and other economic institutions. * Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics *
Essential reading for any economics or finance Ph.D. student interested in corporate finance ... provides an excellent exposition of the incomplete contracts approach to the theory of the firm ... it is a fine survey of the author's contributions to the theory of firm boundaries and financial structure. As such, I commend it highly. * Review of Financial Studies *
