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1、科斯：企业的性质（英文版）The Nature of the Firm (1937)R. H. COASEEconomic theory has suffered in the past from a failure to state clearly its assumption. Economists in building up a theory have often omitted to examine the foundations on which it was erected. This examination is, however, essential not only to
2、prevent the misunderstanding and needles controversy which arise from a lack of knowledge of the assumptions on which a theory is based, but also because of the extreme importance for economics of good judgment in choosing between rival sets of assumptions. For instance, it is suggested that the use
3、 of the word “firm” in economics may be different from the use of the term by the “plain man.” Since there is apparently a trend in economic theory towards starting analysis with the individual firm and not with the industry,2 it is ail the more necessary not only that a clear definition of the word
4、 firm should be given but that its difference from a firm in the real world, if it aists, should be made clear. Mrs. Robinson has said that the two questions to be asked of a set of assumptions in economics are: Are they tractable? and: Do they correspond with the real world?3 Though, as Mrs. Robins
5、on points out, More often one set will be manageable and the other realistic, yet there may well be branches of theory where assumptions may be both manageable and realistic. It is hoped to show in the following paper that a definition of a firm may be obtained which is not only realistic in that it
6、 corresponds to what is meant by a firm in the real world, but is tractable by two of the most powerful instruments of economic analysis developed by Marshall, the idea of the margin and that of substitution, together giving the idea of substitution at the margin.4 Our definition must, of course, re
7、late to formal relations which are capable of being conceived exactly.5IIt is convenient if, in searching for a definition of a firm, we first consider the economic system as it is normally treated by the economist. Let us consider the des cription of the economic system given by Sir Arthur Salter6.
8、 “The normal economic system works itself. For its current operation it is under no central control, it needs no central survey. Over the whole range of human activity and human need, supply is adjusted to demand, and production to consumption, by a process that is automatic, elastic and responsive.
9、” An economist thinks of the economic system as being co-ordinated by the price mechanism and society becomes not an organization but an organism.7 The economic system “works itself. This does not mean that there is no planning by individuals. These exercise foresight and choose between alternatives
10、. This is necessarily so if there is to be order in the system But this theory assumes that the direction of resources is dependent directly on the price The Nature of the Firm (1937) R. H. COASE2mechanism. Indeed, it is often considered to be an objection to economic planning that it merely tries t
11、o do what is already done by the price mechanism.8 Sir Arthur Salters des cription, however, gives a very incomplete picture of our economic system. Within a firm, the des cription does not fit at all. For instance, in economic theory we find that the allocation of factors of production between diff
12、erent uses is determined by the price mechanism. The price of factor A becomes higher in X than in Y.As a result, A moves from Y to X until the difference between the prices in X and Y, except if 50 far as it compensates for other differential advantages, disappears. Yet in the real world, we find t
13、hat there are many areas where this does not apply. If a workman moves from department Y to department X, he does not go because of a change in relative prices, but because he is ordered to do 50. Those who object to economic planning on the grounds that the problem is solved by price movements can
14、be answered by pointing out that there is planning within our economic system which is quite different from the individual planning mentioned above and which is akin to what is normally called economic planning. The example given above is typical of a large sphere in our modem economic system. 0f co
15、urse, this fact has not been ignored by economists. Marshall introduces organization as a fourth factor of production; J.B. Clark gives the co-ordinating function to the entrepreneur; Professor Knight introduces managers who co-ordinate. As D. H. Robertson points out, we find islands of conscious po
16、wer in this ocean of unconscious co-operation like lumps of butter coagulating in a pail of buttermilk.”9 But in view of the fact that it is usually argued that co-ordination will be done by the price mechanism, why is such organization necessary? Why are there these islands of conscious power? Outside the firm, price movements direct production, which is coordinated through a series of exchange transactions on the market. Within a firm, these markets transactions ar
