Institucijas

Institucijas, or institutions, are enduring patterns of social rules and organizations that structure human interaction across society. They include formal bodies such as governments, courts, and regulatory agencies, as well as the informal norms that guide behavior and expectations. By organizing routines and expectations, institutions reduce uncertainty, coordinate actions, and enable complex collective activities.

They can be categorized into public institutions (state agencies, local authorities), private sector institutions (companies, banks, and universities that operate under legal and regulatory rules), non-profit and civil society institutions (NGOs, foundations, professional associations), and international institutions (the United Nations, World Bank, World Trade Organization).

Functions include setting and enforcing rules, allocating resources, delivering services such as education and health, regulating markets, and shaping socialization and identity. Institutions also provide governance frameworks that define rights, responsibilities, and accountability, and they establish mechanisms for dispute resolution and risk pooling.

Characteristics often include formal or informal rules, legitimacy, durability, and mechanisms for accountability. They are subject to path dependence, where historical choices shape current options, and they may evolve through reforms, social change, or technological innovation.

Studying institutions is central to political science, sociology, and economics, because they influence efficiency, equity, and stability. Critics argue that some institutions become bureaucratic, exclusive, or resistant to change, underscoring the need for thoughtful design and periodic evaluation.