Based on some notions from recent game theoretic approaches to explain the emergence of institutions, a model is put forward which implies some generalizations and extensions. First, the evolution of institutions is interpreted as a diffusion process. This interpretation provides a general...

What are the conditions for "moral" conduct in international politics to be viable? This question is explored by modeling regional conflicts as a two-stage game in which imitation of other countries' strategies and public opinion formation processes are assumed to have an impact on a country's...

In modern industrial societies, innovativeness is seen as a source of economic growth and welfare increases. Following this assessment, economic research presently focuses almost exclusively on the question of how to elicit innovations. Yet innovative economic activities have always also meant...

Public choice theory has effectively explored defects in collective action and political processes. However, little attention has been given to the fact that any recommendations as to how to improve the situation can only be realized on the basis of precisely those defective institutions. What...