Organisationsökonomie

Organisationsökonomie, also known as economics of organizations or organizational economics, is a subfield of economics that studies the internal workings of organizations. It applies economic principles and analytical tools to understand how organizations are structured, how decisions are made within them, and how they interact with their environments. Key areas of study include agency theory, transaction cost economics, property rights theory, and information economics.

Agency theory, for instance, examines the relationship between principals and agents, where the agent acts on behalf of the principal. It focuses on how to align their interests and mitigate potential conflicts arising from asymmetric information or differing objectives. Transaction cost economics, pioneered by Oliver Williamson, analyzes the costs associated with conducting economic transactions, including search and information costs, bargaining and decision costs, and policing and enforcement costs. This theory helps explain why certain activities are organized within firms (hierarchies) rather than through market exchange.

Property rights theory, developed by Ronald Coase and others, investigates how the assignment of property rights influences economic behavior and efficiency. It explores how different ownership structures can lead to different outcomes for resource allocation and organizational performance. Information economics, particularly the study of asymmetric information, is also crucial, examining how differences in knowledge between parties affect negotiations, contracts, and organizational design. Organisationsökonomie seeks to provide insights into issues such as organizational design, incentive systems, corporate governance, and the boundaries of the firm.