制度：一种基于社会科学分析框架的表诠

Institutions: A Representation Based on the Framework of Social Analysis

经济学界对于制度的研究已逾百年,但是有关制度概念本身仍然存在着诸多分歧。本文的目的是尝试提出一种统一的制度表诠形式。通过对制度分析文献中有关制度概念沿革的简要梳理,可以总结归纳出三类较具代表性的制度解释,分别为制度的文化观、制度的规则观和博弈论制度分析。这三类表诠各自突出了社会制度的某些特征,却也相应地存在一些问题,并引致了种种制度误识。在分析这些制度误识,并综合各类制度观点之后,本文给出了一个简明、清晰、一般化的制度表诠形式。根据该制度分析框架,我们可以澄清:现实制度既可以是演化的又可以是建构的,二者不存在必然冲突;制度的主观特征是理解社会发展的关键;不存在最有效率的制度,只存在最适应个人行动的制度。

In this article, we give a representation of institutions. In the first part of this article we give a rough overview of all kinds of concepts of institutions, and categorize them into three types of theories, which are institutions as culture, institutions as rules and institutional analysis of game theory. All these concepts are focus on some aspects of institutional analysis. Then we discuss the problems existed in these theories. After the consideration of the theories of institutions, we give a general, concise representation of institutions in the third part of this article. Finally we draw a brief conclusion that we cannot measure the institutional efficiency, but we can find institutional fitness. And this is the key to understand social institutions.