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Economic cognitive institutions

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  • Petracca, Enrico
  • Gallagher, Shaun

Abstract

This paper introduces the notion of ‘cognitive’ institution and discusses its relevance to institutional economics. Cognitive institutions are conceptually founded on the philosophy of mind notion of extended mind, broadened to also include the distinctly social, institutional, and normative dimensions. Cognitive institutions are defined as institutions that not just allow agents to perform certain cognitive processes in the social domain but, more importantly, without which some of the agents' cognitive processes would not exist or even be possible. The externalist point of view of the extended mind has already had some influence in institutional economics: Arthur Denzau and Douglass North first introduced the notion of institution understood in terms of ‘shared mental models’, and relatedly philosopher Andy Clark introduced the notion of ‘scaffolding institution’. We discuss shared mental models and scaffolding institutions and go a step further by showing that the notion of cognitive institution can capture more fundamental and salient aspects of economic institutions. In particular, we focus on the market as an economic cognitive institution.

Suggested Citation

  • Petracca, Enrico & Gallagher, Shaun, 2020. "Economic cognitive institutions," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(6), pages 747-765, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jinsec:v:16:y:2020:i:6:p:747-765_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Blaž Remic, 2021. "Environment as a Resource, not a Constraint," Journal of Contextual Economics (JCE) – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 141(1-2), pages 85-107.
    2. Yang Zhou, 2022. "Economic institutions and horizontal checks and balances in the Chinese bureaucratic system: evidence at the prefecture-city level," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 133-160, June.

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