Vìsnik Žitomirsʹkogo Deržavnogo Tehnologìčnogo Unìversitetu: Ekonomìčnì Nauki (Mar 2015)
Program of institutionalism scientific research: «endogenization of institutions» and economic culture
Abstract
The formation of the institutionalism scientific research uniform program (the paradigm) is hindered by the absence of the unity concerning the source of institutional restrictions for an individual between the supporters of different directions in the institutionalism. They look for the ways of «institutions endogenization» through defining the place of economic culture in forming institutional environment and the uniform paradigm of modern institutionalism. The author emphasizes the imperfection of neoinstitutionalism conception that focuses on exogenous origin of institutional restrictions for an individual. Making distinction between institutions and customs, they explain institutions as different standards and rules of behavior. Directing the explanation from individuals to institutions they recognize the ontological priority of an individual. A certain institutionally unbiased «natural state» is supposed, provided that institutions appear only as a result of interaction between individuals. Since not only institutions restrict the individuals’ interests but individuals form institutional restrictions as well, the author thinks that the conception of «institution» should take into account its exogenous and endogenous nature. The idea of «institutions endogenization» by D.North, also supported by the author of the article, is the closest to this conception realization. Such explanation of «institution» should provide axiological and attitudinal aspects of scientific knowledge; it should make a person not only a blind doer, but also an active participant of evolutionary changes in economic life. A certain institutional structure is always made up of a set of formal rules and informal restrictions, which are indivisible and specific of every culture. The author defines the economy institutional structure as the system of institutions that through organizing everyday life decreases the uncertainty of individuals’ interaction. Informal institutions influence significantly the steady nature of economic entities behavior in the sphere of production, exchange and consumption. They make the basis of economic culture of people. Economic culture can be understood as group experience, as it is the accumulation of experience both of a society and its certain social groups, in the adaptation of economic activity to the social and natural environment. The author arrives at the conclusion that the institution combining individual institutional restrictions of exogenous and endogenous nature can be «economic culture». Such approach allows us to consider economic culture as a formative element of institutional environment in the economy institutional structure and as a starting point for economic policy trough codification of formal rules of individuals’ behavior.
