The work of G.B. Richardson has given insights into key issues and debates such as markets versus hierarchies, price stability, the economics of information and the concept of competition based upon differentiated firms. This collection encourages further development of Richardson's themes. It will make excellent reading for students looking at the capability or competence approach to the firm, and for all those wishing to familiarise themselves with the work of this important economist.

G.B. Richardson is often thought of as the 'founding father' of the theory of the firm or market. His work has given insights into issues and debates such as markets versus hierarchies, price stability, the economics of information and the concept of competition based uopn differentiated firms. Drawn from a recent colloquium held in his honour, the papers in this volume tie in with the themes central in G.B. Richardson's work, addressing their significance, their relationship to the work of other economists and their potential for further development. The first few chapters cover themes related to the comparative neglect of Richardson's work, such as the links with a Marshallian school and the connection with Austrian thinking. Later chapters go on to discuss modern thinking on the theory of the firm, connections between economic and management approaches, as well as applications of the "Richardson model" on collaborative arrangements, the growth of the firm and innovation policy. Crucially, the book also includes a recent essay by G.B. Richardson himself, which shows the continuing development of his ideas. This collection aims to encourage further development of Richardson's them

Leading international theorists explore the most significant developments in debates on the theory of the firm - in particular the contributions of the two major perspectives: transaction costs economics (governance structures) on the one hand, and competence perspectives (resource-based approaches) on the other. Contributors include Oliver Williamson, Giovanni Dosi, Sidney Winter, Sumantra Ghoshal, Mark Casson, Neil Kay, and Ron Sanchez, amongst others.

This volume brings together prominent voices on competence, governance, and entrepreneurship to advance and stimulate economic strategy research. By pooling and mobilizing intellectual resources of both competence and governance perspectives, the contributions show that an innovative joint venture between these two main perspectives can lead to a new avenue of future research on strategic issues such as 'corporate growth', 'interfirm cooperation', and 'corporate entrepreneurship.'

Firms have for a long time been part of the explanatory set-up of economics. However, it is only recently that economists have felt the need for an economic theory addressing: * why firms are different * why firms exist * what determines their boundaries relative to 'the market' * what determines their internal organization. This collection documents the rise of the modern theory of the firm during the last two to three decades. It reprints classic writings from a diversity of perspectives, including not only contractual theories of the firm, but also knowledge-based theories and theories of the firm as an information processor. In addition, the collection features perspectives from business strategy and business history as well as methodological and doctrinal historical perspectives.