Social Policy: Issues of the Modern Conceptualization of Institutionalism

Th e article is devoted to the systematization of modern theoretical views on the role of institutions in social development. Th e relevance of the topic is determined by the need for a thorough analysis of modern views on the role and place of institutions in social development in the conceptualization of diff erent approaches to the development of institutional theory. Th e novelty of the work lies in the substantiation of the directions of use in domestic science and practice of modern approaches to institutionalism in general and various institutions in particular in order to improve the economic and social development of the country, its regions and communities. Th e purpose of the article is to summarize the main latest theoretical views on institutional theory and the practical use of its components in the formation of state development policy in various spheres of public life. Іn the process of preparing the article, such basic research methods as systematic and multidisciplinary, as well as comparative analysis were used, the joint application of which allowed to fully explore and generalize the multifaceted and complex nature of the components of institutional theory and its use. Scientifi c approaches to key components of institutional theory are considered. Th e main characteristics of the concept of institutions as a common phenomenon in the social, political and economic spheres are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the coordinating role of institutions, the importance of studying the impact on public policy-making of both formal and informal institutions. Th e approach to the analysis of institutions from the point of view of rational and sociological behavioral models is systematized. Various scientifi c interpretations of institutional theory on an interdisciplinary basis — from the point of view of organizational institutionalism, institutional economics and comparative institutionalism — are characterized and analyzed. Th e author identifi ed provisions of these theoretical approaches, which seem relevant and are of greatest interest to scientists, politicians, practitioners in the framework of institutional analysis. In particular, the importance of socially responsible investment in the development of person, separate territory, country as a whole, as interconnected and interdependent processes that characterize the development of self-regulation of the business environment as a form of informal institutions. It is found that from the point of view of formation and implementation of public policy by authorities of diff erent territorial levels, it is important to use the ideas of comparative institutionalism, in particular on the mutual conditionality and interdependence of institutions in diff erent spheres of public life. Th e generalization of research on the implementation by countries of various institutional forms for the improvement of development policy is out, on the basis of which the importance of complementarity of institutions, dialectically interconnected, is determined. In this context, the key functions of institutions that are critical for the formation and implementation of development policy are described. Th e introduction of such an approach to evaluating the eff ectiveness of institutions as “institutional distance” is analyzed.

Bringing Political Economy Back In

This chapter argues that the current literature on meaningful work underplays and mostly overlooks the importance of institutional arrangements in structuring opportunities for meaningful work. It sets out different theories of comparative institutionalism (rational choice, historical, sociological, and constructivist) and explores their implications for future research on meaningful work. Three pathways are identified for promoting meaningful work: (1) develop institutional arrangements that encourage social actors to cooperate to develop meaningful work as a societal goal, supported by an enabling state; (2) strengthen collective bargaining and employee representation; and (3) develop social movement strategies drawing together academics, policymakers, employer organizations, consultants, social media, and commentators to shape a new discourse and wider societal narrative on the importance of opportunities for meaningful work.

Not Chinese exceptionalism, but comparative institutionalism!

In this commentary, I endorse Töpfer’s critique on the conceptual centrality of ‘lead firms’ in the existing global production network/global financial network analyses and her argument to restore the primary role of the state in theorizing global financial integration. I suggest that the next step on the research agenda is to go beyond Chinese exceptionalism and develop an integrated politico-institutional framework that can enable critical, comparative studies of territorially variegated economic globalization.

Institutional Theory Perspectives on Emerging Markets

This chapter presents a critical review of the applications of the institutional perspective in research focused on emerging markets. The review is organized along (a) three distinct institutional strands (i.e., institutional economics, organizational institutionalism, and comparative institutionalism), and (b) three domain areas regarding how each perspective has examined the evolution of the national business environment, the interface between the firm and the institutional context in its home and host countries, and the unique strategies and ways of organizing and managing of firms operating in emerging markets. The chapter concludes with several ideas about promising opportunities for future research on emerging markets in the institutional tradition.

In and Between Societies: Reconnecting Comparative Institutionalism and Organization Theory

Recently, the state and future of organization theory have been widely debated. In this Perspectives issue, we aim to contribute to these debates by suggesting that organizational scholarship may benefit from greater understanding and consideration of societal institutions and their effects on the collective organizing of work. We also illustrate that the literature on comparative institutionalism, a strand of institutional thought with a rich tradition within Organization Studies, provides useful insights into these relations. We highlight several of these insights and briefly introduce the articles collected in the associated Perspectives issue of Organization Studies on comparative institutionalism1. We end with a call for greater cross-fertilization between comparative institutionalism and organization theory at large.