Abstract This study examines how individualism influences patriarchal gender norms across 93 countries, using data from the Integrated Values Surveys. We hypothesize that individualism, emphasizing personal autonomy and egalitarian values, reduces patriarchal attitudes directly and indirectly through formal institutions. Our findings reveal a robust negative association between individualism and patriarchal attitudes, with a one-standard deviation increase in individualism linked to a 0.78 standard deviation decrease in patriarchal attitudes. This association holds across various controls and instrumental variable techniques addressing endogeneity. Mediation analysis shows that institutions, particularly liberal democracy and legal gender parity, mediate 5% to 37% of this association. These results underscore individualism’s role in promoting egalitarian gender norms and suggest that culturally aligned institutional reforms, such as strengthening women’s economic rights or democratic participation, can amplify these effects.

Abstract The article examines the drivers of migrant atypical employment in the manufacturing sector of Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region that is well known for its high-quality manufacturing productions and industrial relations. By drawing on administrative data based on mandatory communications, we document that, even in such an institutional context, migrants have a disproportionately higher likelihood of being hired through either fixed-term or agency contracts than native workers. We interpret this evidence through a set of different theories, including human capital theory, dual labour market processes, the use of precarious contracts as screening devices, and institutional segmentation theories. The empirical analysis reveals that while migrant employment through fixed-term contracts is consistent with dual processes and screening practices, the hiring of migrants with agency contracts is driven by processes of institutional segmentation, through which employers shift the costs of flexibility to the most vulnerable and less organized segments within the labour force, such as migrants. Managerial and policy implications are discussed.

Abstract Preserving or improving biodiversity outcomes requires a coordinated approach across policy levels and land managers. Agri-environmental collectives in the Netherlands adapt environmental policies to local conditions and coordinate the conservation efforts of their members. This paper describes the functions performed by the Dutch collectives through a meso-institutional lens and assesses whether the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes has improved since the introduction of the collective approach. To this end, we use a case study of one of the Dutch collectives, and a mixed-methods approach including interviews and quantitative assessments of changes in the spatial coordination of the agri-environmental scheme for meadow bird conservation since the introduction of the collective scheme. The analysis shows an increase in contracted farmland area and spatial coordination of the contracted measures on these farmlands. The results highlight the potential value of the collective approach for the implementation of environmental policies for biodiversity.

Abstract The canonical reading of Jaurès’s L’Armée nouvelle presents this work as an outdated reflection on the establishment of a socialist society supervised by intermediary bodies whose military training would be a major asset. Our reading goes beyond this historically situated approach to Jaurès’s book. We show that The New Army is not just a response to the General Staff, even less a ‘theorisation’ of the transition to socialism, but that its aim is to rehabilitate the founding principles of democratic institutions (ancient and modern), which rest on the constitution of an army of citizens: The ‘proletarian-soldier’ of Jaurès is none other than the ‘farmer-soldier’ of the ancient city and of Year 2 of the French Revolutionary calendar, transposed to the Industrial Age. Relying on a game-theoretical model, we highlight that this defence of democratic institutions is backed by a discourse of the economics of war prevention in terms of self-protection.

Abstract In this paper, we build a theoretical framework to better understand the polycentric governance of global socio-ecological challenges through the lenses of meso-institutional analysis. Climate change, deforestation, pollinator decline, and loss of soil fertility are examples of complex socio-ecological challenges caused by anthropic pressures at a global scale. These challenges result in intractable social dilemmas and absent or weak macro-institutions, posing questions on how subsidiary mechanisms of coordination can be adopted in a polycentric governance approach. Building on the meso-institutional framework and socio-ecological systems framework, we investigate the emergence and establishment of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs), where businesses, governments, and civil society organizations try to address global challenges. Recognizing meso-institutional functions in MSPs allowed us to expand our theorizing of the polycentric governance of global socio-ecological challenges, looking at nested, interrelated, and multi-layered relations between multiple actors and organizations.

Abstract The emergence of large language models (LLMs) has made it increasingly difficult to protect and enforce intellectual property (IP) rights in a digital landscape where content can be easily accessed and utilized without clear authorization. First, we explain why LLMs make it uniquely difficult to protect and enforce IP, creating a ‘tragedy of the commons.’ Second, drawing on theories of polycentric governance, we argue that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) could be effective tools for addressing the complexities of digital IP rights. Third, we provide an illustrative case study that shows how NFTs can facilitate dispute resolution of IP on the blockchain.

Abstract Over the last three decades, Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) have undergone profound institutional reforms to transition from centrally planned to market economies. Full EU membership began two decades ago, marking another significant milestone. The paper seeks to examine how the regulations and other institutions, as measured by the economic freedom indicator and its components, shape the economic growth and development of CEEC. Two research questions are posed. Data spanning from 1996 to 2021 for 11 countries are examined. We employ hierarchical clustering to identify homogeneous groups of countries and utilize panel cointegration tests and the AutoRegressive Distributed Lags model to find long- and short-term relationships. The study identifies four groups of countries according to the EF indicator. Two long-run statistical relationships are identified between GDP per capita and economic freedom and between the Human Development Index (HDI) and economic freedom. Granger causality test shows that in the short-run, GDP per capita and HDI preceded economic freedom, except for business freedom, which was a precursor to GDP per capita, and property rights, which preceded HDI. That underscores the role of institutional order in creating an environment conducive to growth and development.

Abstract Drawing inspiration from Oliver Williamson’s work, we employ a ‘discriminating alignment’ approach to explain how established organizations select and govern external sources of innovation. Our framework integrates ‘standard’ governance mechanisms, such as licensing and joint ventures, with ‘emerging’ mechanisms, such as hackathons and accelerators. First, we classify governance mechanisms into three types – market scanning, opportunity support, and opportunity control – based on four attributes: the degree of reallocation of decision rights, the degree of pooling of property rights, set-up costs, and ex post adaptation costs. We then argue that two key variables – uncertainty and technological distance – jointly help determine the choice of the appropriate mechanism for transactions involving entrepreneurial opportunities. By developing a comprehensive taxonomy of arrangements linked to the governance of external innovations, this study offers propositions that identify the drivers of ‘efficient alignment’ between transactions attributes and organizational choices in entrepreneurial contexts.

Abstract Research shows that meritocratic recruitment (MR) in public administration is positively related to improved government performance and developmental outcomes. However, the mechanisms behind these improvements remain understudied theoretically and empirically. This paper addresses this gap by theorising and testing two simultaneous pathways through which MR influences development outcomes. First, by prioritising competence over nepotism or political expedience, MR enhances the epistemic quality of bureaucratic personnel (the competence mechanism). Second, by creating incentive misalignment between bureaucrats and politicians, it enables bureaucrats to resist undue political influence, prioritise public interests in governance, and ultimately contribute to development (the impartiality mechanism). Applying mediation analysis to fourteen years of cross-national data, we examine whether changes in recruitment systems are associated with competence- and impartiality-laden indicators of government performance and developmental outcomes. The findings provide robust empirical support for these mechanisms, advancing theoretical understanding and empirical insights into the effects of MR.

Abstract It is now abundantly clear that social norms channel behaviour and impact economic development. This insight leads to the question: How do social norms evolve? In a companion paper (Voigt (2023). Journal of Institutional Economics, 20), I survey studies showing that geographical conditions can have direct and long-lasting effects on social norms. This paper goes one step further: It surveys studies that show how different geographical conditions affect both religious beliefs as well as traditions of family organization and how these, in turn, affect social norms.