Markets

This volume provides a distinctive introduction to the way social, political and economic life is coordinated. It brings together three quite different models of coordination--markets, hierarchies, and networks--and places them in a comparative framework, presenting a comprehensive and insightful overview of social coordination. The chapters dealing with each model explore the characteristics of that coordinating mechanism, outlining key theoretical issues and drawing on various empirical examples. The final section shows how these models can be compared and contrasted. It also assesses the respective strengths, weaknesses and limitations of each model.