This article analyses the competitiveness in the inner regions of Portugal using an institutionalist approach. After reviewing academic work about the different aspects of competitiveness it then tests the hypothesis: “The inner regions of Portugal have competitive socio-economic dimensions in...

One of the most frequent questions asked by economists is how individual members of societies make choices. It can be observed that economic agents imitate other agents’ actions. It should be asked why rational people choose to imitate other’s behaviour and make decisions that are not based...

Under what circumstances is it necessary or convenient for an agent to rely on habits and rules? This paper focuses on the types of decision situation giving rise to their use. Even optimisation requires the development of rules, and for this reason mainstream economics cannot legitimately...

This article explains two enigmas related to the scientific career of Thomas C. Schelling, Nobel Price in Economics 2005: How to explain his capacity to always produce new ideas? Why have his multiple pioneer ideas had more impact on other social sciences and not on economics? The paper proposes...

After clarifying the notion of trust, this article analyzes the foundations of trust and the role of openness and communication, actions and third parties in the building, breakdown and repair of trust.