Introduction

The nature & implications of the political economy/rational choice approach to institutional analysis are discussed in an introduction to a collection of essays explaining social institutions (each abstracted). Institutions are characterized as either formal or informal, based on the presence of legal backing & the provision of legal authority by the state. The rational choice framework of institutional analysis allows consideration of issues such as power, social context, history, community values, ideology, & social norms. Institutions influence social outcomes by establishing the rules of social interaction, which are enforced through (1) the provision of information concerning the available choices of social actors, & (2) the threat of sanctions in the event of noncompliance. Social institutions determine social expectations & beliefs, thereby impacting social life. The insights of the contributions are briefly reviewed. T. Sevier