On Socio-Economic Roles and Specialization

Abstract

In this paper we discuss a general relational model of economic interaction. Within this non-market environment we discuss the emergence of economic specialization and eventually of economic trade and a social division of labor. We base our approach on three levels in organizational development: the presence of a stable relational structure; the presence of relational trust and subjective specialization; and, finally, the emergence of objective specialization through the institution and the social recognition of economic roles. * This paper is dedicated to the memory of Xiakai Yang, whose work on specialization and the social division of labor inspired us in constructing the theory as presented and discussed in this paper. This paper is an extended compilation of the formal theory developed in Gilles, Lazarova and Ruys (2006).