GIANLUIGI GALEOTTI

La regola del potere e il potere delle regole nell'analisi economica  

N. 3/1985

Summary — The theme of power — defined as the possibility to impose one‘s choice on someone else — constitutes an important as well as apparently neglected aspect of neo-classical economics. In this paper the neo-classical paradigm is interpreted by distinguishing the notion of initial power (definition of individual rights over economic resources) from that of operative power (lines of action available to an individual) and by recognizing in market competition the rule of control of the operational power that inhibits any influence by the subjects of the economic exchange on the terms of the exchange itself.

The neo-classical debate on externalities is then analysed to show how it calls for a precise analysis of the contents of power brought about by the various rules through which human interaction develops. In this way, however, the neo-classical paradigm seems to loose its analytical bases, since the assumption of initial power is weakened as it is absorbed in the notion of operative power when the first can be defined on the basis of the second. As neutral rules no longer exist, competition looses its general meaning and a positive analysis of the power implications of different rules of social interaction is called in.