The New Institutionalist Economic History of Douglass C. North: A Critical Interpretation

by Matthijs Krul

This book offers a comprehensive assessment of Douglass North’s contribution to economics and the social sciences by examining the origins and structure of his New Institutionalist Economic History (NIEH). Informed by contemporary debates in the philosophy of economics, Krul describes the evolution of North’s theory from mainstream economics to an increasingly heterodox form of New Institutionalism. He also examines what North's original aims were in developing the NIEH research programme and how well it has achieved these aims. By exploring major themes in North's NIEH, with an emphasis on the final stage of his theory, Krul sheds new light on the strengths and weaknesses of North's work. He also discusses the implications of this critical interpretation for the New Institutionalism in economics and other fields of social science.

276 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2018

Reviews

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, solid critique of Douglas North and his New Institutionalist Economic History. If you are a graduate or research student in economic history, this is well-worth reading. I also learnt from this book that North's original inspiration was to rebut the work of Polanyi: a fact that is not very well known, but explains a lot.