How Incomplete is the Theory of the Firm?

The standard (economic) theory of the firm is silent on the role firms can play in shaping the rules of the game under which they operate. In reality, many firms lobby politicians and try to capture regulators in order to modify the rules of the game in their favor. Some scholars have argued that the resources devoted to these activities are relatively so small that they are likely to have insignificant effects, and/or that regardless of how much firms invest in political activities, in a well-functioning democracy there are countervailing forces that effectively level the playing field. Other scholars have noted that the resources firms devote to shaping the rules of the game to their own advantage are sufficiently large and their effects sufficiently important to warrant a rethinking of the standard economic theory of the firm. Which of these two views has more empirical support? If the latter, should the economic theory of the firm be modified? If so, how, and is the potential fix better or worse than the existing problem?

To address these questions, the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Harvard Business School, and Oxford University will organize a conference in Chicago on March 3–4, 2017.

The conference is by invitation only.

Logistics

The conference venue is the Gleacher Center, located in downtown Chicago at 450 N Cityfront Plaza Dr. There are a number of hotels in the area with special University of Chicago rates, details below. Ask for the University of Chicago rate when making your booking.

InterContinental Chicago
505 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611
(800) 628-2112

Club Quarters Wacker at Michigan
75 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 357-6400; Reservations: (203) 905-2100

LondonHouse Chicago
85 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 357-1200

Omni Chicago
676 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 944-6664

Schedule

Gleacher Center 204
450 N Cityfront Plaza Dr