Oliver Williamson

Economics American 1932 – 2020 101 quotes

A Nobel laureate known for his work on transaction cost economics and the theory of the firm.

Quotes by Oliver Williamson

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional framework of firms.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

The choice of governance structure is a matter of managing complexity.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional arrangements that govern contracting.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

The purpose of economic organization is to facilitate adaptation.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional framework of governance.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

The choice of governance structure is a matter of promoting cooperation.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional arrangements that shape economic outcomes.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

The purpose of economic organization is to resolve disputes.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional framework of economic systems.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

The choice of governance structure is a matter of safeguarding investments.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

The study of economic organization is a study of the institutional arrangements that facilitate economic growth.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

Transaction costs are the friction that shapes economic organization.

Markets and Hierarchies 1975

Organizations exist to economize on bounded rationality.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

Asset specificity is the key to understanding why firms internalize transactions.

The Economics of Organization 1981

Governance structures mitigate opportunism in economic exchanges.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

Economics without institutions is incomplete.

Interview with Nobel Prize 2000

The lens of contract illuminates the boundaries of the firm.

The Economic Institutions of Capitalism 1985

In a world of positive transaction costs, hierarchy has its place.

Markets and Hierarchies 1975

Opportunism requires safeguards; that's the essence of governance.

The Mechanisms of Governance 1996

Bounded rationality means we design institutions to cope with uncertainty.

Speech at AEA 1981