Beliefs Creating Reform

This chapter discusses the difference between beliefs and practice within institutions, and investigates the effects of this difference on the frequency of reforms. It argues that even when beliefs are poor descriptions of practice, they can still have important, although more indirect, practical effects. One such effect is the production of reforms. This thesis is illustrated by referring to institutionalized beliefs about the organizations, comparing it with the institutions of the market and the individual. It highlights three effects of institutional beliefs: their effect on responsibility allocation, on legitimacy, and on reform. Differences between beliefs about organizations and beliefs about markets lead to differences in the way responsibility is allocated within these institutions.

Business · Economics · Legitimacy · Microeconomics · Political science · Politics · Production (economics) · Public relations · Corruption and Economic Development · Law