Courts and Relational Contracts

71 Pages Posted: 5 Feb 2002

See all articles by Simon Johnson

Simon Johnson

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Entrepreneurship Center; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

John McMillan

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Christopher M. Woodruff

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IRPS)

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2002

Abstract

Post-communist countries offer new evidence on the relative importance of courts and relationships in enforcing contracts. Belief in the effectiveness of courts has a significant positive effect on the level of trust shown in new relationships between firms and their customers. Well-functioning courts also encourage entrepreneurs to try out new suppliers. Courts are particularly important when specific investments are needed for a relationship to develop. While relationships can sustain existing interactions, workable courts help new interactions to start and develop.

JEL Classification: D2, G0

Suggested Citation

Johnson, Simon and McMillan, John and Woodruff, Christopher, Courts and Relational Contracts (January 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=291802 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.291802

Simon Johnson (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Entrepreneurship Center ( email )

United States
617-253-8412 (Phone)
617-258-6855 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

John McMillan

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Christopher Woodruff

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IRPS) ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0519
United States
858-534-0590 (Phone)
858-534-3939 (Fax)

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