HSE Publishing House

The monograph consists of studies prepared and published in 2001–2013. While covering very diverse theoretical issues they focus on three key subjects — methodology of economic analysis; institutional economics; human capital. The first part includes a series of intellectual portraits of five Nobel laureates — Fridrich Hayek, Ronald Coase, Gary Becker, Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson. The second part examines various methodological issues — an institutional approach proposed by K. Polanyi; alternative interpretations of the Coase theorem; a history of debates around QWERTY-effect; the normative program of behavioral economics known as a “new” paternalism. In the next part fundamental institutional problems are discussed such as an economic role of property rights and effectiveness of enforcement. The last part explores issues associated with theoretical analysis and quantitative measurements of human capital.