Explicit and Implicit Rules of Competition: An Interdisciplinary Framework for Analysis

Competition structures contemporary societies as an omnipresent organizing principle yet is often understood as a neutral technical mechanism. This paper develops a theoretical framework on competition as a social institution structured by explicit and implicit rules that systematically reproduce power relations under the guise of fair selection. While explicit rules govern formal processes and are accessible to all participants, implicit rules remain concealed yet fundamentally determine competitive practices and outcomes. These rule types are distinguished by the 'border of what can be said (and done)'. Through three empirical competitive formats examining housing markets, EU policymaking, and global development, we demonstrate how this distinction illuminates the mechanisms through which competition legitimizes social inequalities. Our framework bridges theoretical approaches while accounting for competition's variability and ambiguity. By rendering implicit rules visible and contestable, this analysis challenges neoliberal instrumentalization and reveals competition's deep entanglement with power relations in modern capitalist societies.