Introduction: Economics Meets Sociology in Strategic Management

Dobbin, Frank; Baum, Joel A. C.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2412070

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…A sociologic account is instrumental in understanding the development of different types of interests as well as the power-mediated interactions of socially embedded decision makers. Despite their distinct ontological and epistemic orientations (Dobbin & Baum, 2000;Fligstein & Dauter, 2007;North, 1990), both perspectives offered largely convergent explanations. We enrich the literature on self-regulation with the insight that, while the controversy over voluntary environmental standards created by NGOs and firms-driven by interest divergence and field opacity-is inherent, the positive effects of this controversy on sustainability transitions will typically outweigh the downsides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We then analyzed controversy around this standard from the vantage points of economics and sociology. Combining these perspectives enabled us to capture this phenomenon more comprehensively (Dobbin & Baum, 2000; Piore, 2002; Smelser & Swedberg, 2005). An economic analysis yields structured insights into the material drivers of different actors given the prevailing payoff structures and into the conditions and outcomes of competition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Controversy Over Voluntary Environmental Standards: A Socioeconomic Analysis of the Marine Stewardship Council

Wijen

Chiroleu‐Assouline

2019

Organization & Environment

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Voluntary standards certifying environmental qualities of labeled products have proliferated across sectors and countries. Effectuating these standards requires the collaboration among and between creators (typically firms and nongovernmental organizations) and adopters (firms across a particular supply chain). However, the need to collaborate does not rule out the presence of controversy. Drawing on the case of the Marine Stewardship Council, a leading seafood standard to conserve the world's threatened marine fauna, we analyze how this controversy, from economic and sociologic vantage points, impacts a sustainability transition. In essence, interest divergence drives controversy over standard design, which spurs controversy over standard effectiveness and prompts the proliferation of competing standards. Controversy is magnified by the opacity or nontransparency of the fields which such standards seek to govern. We conclude that, while interest divergence and field opacity entail inherent controversy over voluntary environmental standards, the impact of this controversy on sustainability transitions is typically predominantly positive.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%