Coase theorem

E96716

The Coase theorem is an economic theory stating that if property rights are well-defined and transaction costs are negligible, private bargaining will lead to an efficient allocation of resources regardless of the initial assignment of rights.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
The Problem of Social Cost 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf economic theorem
theorem in law and economics
welfare economics concept
addresses problem of social cost
assumption no wealth effects on marginal valuations in some formulations
parties are rational
parties have complete information
property rights are well-defined
transaction costs are zero or negligible
concerns allocation of property rights
bargaining over legal entitlements
externalities
coreIdea efficiency of resource allocation is independent of initial assignment of legal rights under zero transaction costs
with well-defined property rights and zero transaction costs, private bargaining leads to efficient outcomes
field economics
environmental economics
institutional economics
law and economics
welfare economics
implies government intervention is not necessary for efficiency under zero transaction costs
initial allocation of rights affects wealth distribution
initial allocation of rights does not affect efficiency under ideal conditions
legal rule affects distribution but not efficiency under zero transaction costs
parties can internalize externalities through bargaining
influenced environmental policy design
law and economics movement
property rights economics
limitation coordination problems with many affected parties
enforcement costs of agreements
information asymmetries can prevent efficient bargaining
real-world transaction costs are often significant
strategic behavior in bargaining
namedAfter Ronald Coase
originatedIn The Problem of Social Cost
surface form: article "The Problem of Social Cost"
originatedYear 1960
proposedBy Ronald Coase NERFINISHED
relatedTo First Welfare Theorem
Pigouvian taxes
surface form: Pigouvian tax

Ronald Coase NERFINISHED
The Problem of Social Cost
bargaining theory
externality
property rights theory
transaction costs
usedIn analysis of bargaining solutions in game theory
analysis of environmental regulation
analysis of intellectual property disputes
analysis of nuisance law
analysis of pollution control
design of liability rules

Referenced by (3)

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this entity surface form: The Problem of Social Cost
Pigouvian taxes relatedConcept Coase theorem