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Qu'est-ce qu'une firme (-réseau) ?

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  • Virgile Chassagnon

    (LEFI - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Firme et des Institutions - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2)

Abstract

This paper intends to depart from a critique of the nexus of contracts theory of the firmendowed with its moral personification to propose some theoretical foundations of the firm asa real entity. Some old legal views of the corporation are mobilized to complete theconceptual vacuity of economic theories. This provides crucial insights for modern complexorganizations such as the network-firm. The integrating and unifying role of intra-networkpower relationships is then emphasized and some law and economics of the network-firm areultimately proposed to clarify the argument that the network-firm − as the firm stricto sensu −is a singular real entity composed from distinct legal entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Virgile Chassagnon, 2008. "Qu'est-ce qu'une firme (-réseau) ?," Post-Print halshs-00374758, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00374758
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00374758
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