Archives mensuelles : avril 2026

コンヴァンシオン経済学入門 – 慣行から価値へ

Introduction to Economics of convention – From convention to value.

Junya Tatemi & Masafumi Yokemoto (dir.) (2026)

Kyoto: Nakanishiya Publishing, 308 p.

価値の基準はいかにして生まれるのか、そしてそれはどのように用いられるのか
レギュラシオン学派と異なり、ミクロおよびメゾの次元における経済対象を扱い、「質の慣行」に注目し、複数の価値の基準とその用いられ方を明らかにするコンヴァンシオン学派によるユニークな「制度の経済学」をさまざまな観点から紹介する
コンヴァンシオン理論はかつては方法論的個人主義に拠っていたが、その意図は、主体間で行為が調整されるときにさまざまな水準の「慣行」が必要であることを明らかにする、いいかえれば制度的なものの次元の先行的な実在性を示すことであった。慣行としての集合的表象は、社会的諸価値の基準であり、それは狭義の経済的価値だけでなく規範的価値をも含んでいる。主体は、意思決定や計算の基準となり相互行為を可能にする尺度である「質の慣行」を参照しながら、財、人、組織、行為、出来事などの事物・事象の解釈や評価あるいは批判を行う(価値づけ、質的規定)。認知と規範のつながりとして慣行を捉える点、および価値の基準(共通善)が複数存在しそれらがいかに用いられるかを分析しようとする点が、コンヴァンシオン派の大きな特徴であろう

How Do Value Standards Emerge, and How Are They Applied?
Unlike the Regulation Theory, this book introduces the unique institutional economics proposed by the Convention Theory—which deals with economic phenomena at the micro and meso levels, focuses on “quality conventions,” and elucidates multiple value standards and how they are applied—from various perspectives.
Convention theory was once grounded in methodological individualism, but its intent was to demonstrate that various levels of “conventions” are necessary when actions are coordinated among agents—in other words, to show the prior reality of the institutional dimension. Collective representations as conventions serve as criteria of social values, encompassing not only economic value in the narrow sense but also normative value. Actors interpret, evaluate, or critique objects and phenomena—such as goods, people, organizations, actions, and events—by referring to “practices of quality,” which serve as standards for decision-making and calculation and as measures enabling mutual interaction (valuation, qualification). The key characteristics of the Convention theory are likely its conception of convention as a link between cognition and norms, and its attempt to analyze how multiple criteria of value (the common good) exist and are employed.

Table of contents

Part 1: Theory

Chapter 1: The Concept of Convention in Economics of Convention
by Taizo Yamamoto and Junya Tatemi

Chapter 2: From Game Theory to Economics of Convention. Lewis, Young, and Sugden  by Guillemette de Larquier (Translated by Hiroki Yokota and Junya Tatemi)

Chapter 3: A Theoretical Examination of Value and Valuation. Developments in Economics of Convention
by Junya Tatemi and Taizo Yamamoto

Supplement 1: On the “World of Production” by Junya Tatemi

Chapter 4: The Convention of Money and Value. The Logical Structure of the Orleans School
by Akiyoshi Sakaguchi

Supplement 2: The Theory of Imitative Desire and Convention
by Akiyoshi Sakaguchi

Supplement 3: John R. Commons and Economics of Convention, Regulation Theory
by Kota Kitagawa and Akiyoshi Sakaguchi

Chapter 5: Constructivist Research and the Ethical Role of Conventions
by Kota Kitagawa and Yu Kurosawa

Supplementary Essay 4: Deriving a Vision of Society from Collective Action
by Yu Kurosawa

Part 2: Applications

Chapter 6: Changes in Capitalism and the Social Solidarity Economy. Seeking New Forms of Regional Development
by Junya Tatemi

Chapter 7: The Essence of the Firm in Economics of Convention. From a Coordination Device to a Governance Device of Power    
by Hiroki Yokota and Junya Tatemi

Chapter 8: A Convention-based Approach to Accounting. Considering Accounting through “Conventions of Quantification,” “Conventions of Coordination,” and “Conventions of Valuation”  
by Eri Kanamori

Chapter 9: Service Research in Convention Theory. Viewing Services as Social Interaction  
by Kota Kitagawa

Chapter 10: The Expropriation of the Commons and the Politics of Legal Mediators  
by Christian Bessy and Kota Kitagawa

Chapter 11: Politics Surrounding Valuation and “Value of Territory”. Case Studies from Minamata and Mizushima  
by Masafumi Yokemoto

Chapter 12: The Valuation of Objects as Collective Creation in Society. Considering the Formation of a New Local Production Community and Connections with Citizens through Locally Made Wooden Furniture  
by Hiroki Yokota

Chapter 13: Convention Theory and the Political Economy of Art. Re-examining the “Art World” from the Perspective of Valuation Theory  
by Junya Tatemi

Chapter 14: Gender Valuation and Practices (Conventions) Surrounding Women’s Labor in Japan. Reflections on Gender-Related Values  
by Ryoko Hattori

Afterword

Link / Lien

L’étude de l’influence des tensions entre la gestion de projet et la gestion du changement sur la réussite des projets de changement organisationnel: une perspective paradoxale

A Study of the Influence of Tensions Between Project Management and Change Management on the Success of Organizational Change Projects: A Paradoxical Perspective

Aimad Etteddary (2025)

PhD thesis. Trois-Rivières: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Jury
Christophe Bredillet, Directeur de recherche, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Darli Rodriguez Vieira, Président, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Philippe Boigey, Membre externe, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Martin Noël, Membre externe, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Majdouline Ilias, Membre socio-économique, Université Internationale d’Agardir

Résumé. Dans un environnement où les organisations doivent continuellement s’adapter et implémenter des stratégies, les projets et les programmes représentent un outil puissant pour conduire ces changements organisationnels.
Malgré l’évolution des méthodes de gestion, ces projets affichent encore des taux d’échec très élevés. À ce stade, deux domaines des sciences de la gestion se trouvent implicitement mobilisés : la gestion de projet et la gestion du changement. La divergence des pratiques de ces deux domaines donne naissance à des tensions et à des conflits qui compliquent la conduite des projets de changement.
Pour redresser cet enjeu, la thèse a deux objectifs principaux. Le premier consiste à étudier l’influence de ces tensions sur la réussite des projets et sur la résistance au changement. Le second vise à analyser le rôle modérateur de la gestion des tensions organisationnelles sur la relation entre (a) les tensions entre la gestion de projet et la gestion du changement et (b) la réussite des projets de changement.
Pour ce faire, la thèse mobilise deux théories : la théorie des paradoxes, qui considère les tensions comme des opportunités à exploiter, et la théorie des conventions, qui apporte un éclairage sur les comportements des individus dans les situations d’incertitude. La posture pragmatique adoptée permet de proposer des pratiques de gestion utiles et actionnables, capables d’améliorer la pratique et de réduire les effets négatifs liés aux tensions entre les deux domaines.
Au niveau empirique, la thèse repose sur une étude de cas exploratoire et longitudinale. L’utilisation des entretiens semi-directifs, de l’observation et de l’analyse de documents a permis de mieux comprendre la dynamique des tensions, les formes de résistance observées et les pratiques de gestion mises en œuvre. Pour finir, l’analyse thématique montre que les tensions ignorées et non gérées influencent négativement la réussite des projets et alimentent la résistance au changement. À l’inverse, une gestion proactive des tensions améliore les résultats des projets et réduit la résistance.

Abstract. In an environment where organizations must continually adapt and implement strategies, projects and programs serve as powerful tools for driving these organizational changes.
Despite evolving management methods, these projects still exhibit very high failure rates. At this stage, two fields of management science are implicitly involved: project management and change management. The divergence in practices between these two fields gives rise to tensions and conflicts that complicate the execution of change projects.
To address this challenge, the thesis has two main objectives. The first is to study the influence of these tensions on project success and resistance to change. The second aims to analyze the moderating role of organizational tension management on the relationship between (a) the tensions between project management and change management and (b) the success of change projects.
To this end, the thesis draws on two theories: the theory of paradoxes, which views tensions as opportunities to be exploited, and the theory of conventions, which sheds light on individual behaviors in situations of uncertainty. The pragmatic approach adopted enables the proposal of useful and actionable management practices capable of improving practice and reducing the negative effects associated with tensions between the two domains.
At the empirical level, the thesis is based on an exploratory, longitudinal case study. The use of semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis provided a better understanding of the dynamics of tensions, the forms of resistance observed, and the management practices implemented. Finally, the thematic analysis shows that ignored and unmanaged tensions negatively influence project success and fuel resistance to change. Conversely, proactive tension management improves project outcomes and reduces resistance.

Lien / Link

Making the collectivist organization: Creativity, conformity, and social closure

Will Charles (2025)

Poetics, 109, 101982

Abstract. Drawing from ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and surveys, this study of a makerspace investigates social closure—processes by which groups maintain exclusive control over resources and opportunities—in an organization rejecting hierarchy and cultural conformity. This question is pertinent to organizations promoting collectivist and pluralist ideals. I found that despite espousing creativity and non-conformity, a culturally homogeneous in-group emerged in the organization. This highlights a tension between artistic and social critiques of capitalism, which are often espoused by collectivist organizations. The artistic critique challenges capitalism’s instrumentalization of creativity, advocating for meaning and beauty in production. In contrast, the social critique targets inequalities and promotes inclusivity and justice. Members of the organization pursued the artistic critique through creative making but repressed a social critique. The organization’s narrow focus on artistic critique led to a form of asceticism, limiting broader social impact. To counteract social closure and uphold collectivist ideals, organizations must actively prevent exclusive in-groups. Addressing economic disparities via alternative funding models and fostering mutual aid can mitigate unintentional hierarchies. Integrating artistic and social goals holistically by expanding the definition of creativity to include instrumental practices can bridge community divides.

Lien / Link

Research in transformation: a pragmatist perspective on change-oriented research in digital education contexts

Kenneth Horvath & Barbara Getto (2026)

Learning, Media and Technology, Online first, open access

Abstract. The digital transformation creates persistent pressure for change in educational institutions and practice. Researchers actively involved in these digital change processes face specific methodological challenges that have so far been seldom discussed. Drawing on pragmatist methodology, this paper identifies and outlines key areas for methodological reflection that follow from the interlocked dynamics that characterize change-oriented research in education. Pragmatism proves productive for this endeavor due to its situational methodology and its socio-historical perspective on research. We identify seven reflection areas, each bridging methodological concerns with the social, political, and educational issues at stake: the digital transformation of research methods themselves, underlying assumptions of educational quality, appropriate generalization strategies, consideration of uncertainties and side effects, actor configurations, overlapping temporalities, and challenges to common wisdom. We discuss why each of these aspects points to important methodological issues and demonstrate how these reflection areas enable more deliberate engagement with established frameworks for change-oriented educational research, such as Evidence-Based Practice and Design-Based Research. The proposed methodological reflection areas thus respond to the pressing need for more reflexive research designs and strategies when researchers are themselves embedded in the digital transformation processes they investigate.

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Nested Hybridity in International Higher Education Collaboration during the Times of War. A Comparative Study of Finland and Sweden.

Henna Juusola (2026)

In: Pekkola, Elias/de Andrade, Luiz Alonso/Kettunen, Kerttu/Lundborg, Stefan (eds.), Hybridity Through Transitions. Crisis and Resilience in Nordic Universities. Leiden: Brill, pp. 129-146. Open access.

Abstract. This research explores the nested hybridity and moral justification of international higher education collaboration (IHEC) in Finland and Sweden, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Based on 16 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2023 with representatives with strategic responsibility for IHEC from Finnish and Swedish higher education institutions, as well as national documents, the findings show that IHEC operates as a nested hybridity, where national policies, organisational strategies and practical operations dynamically interact. However, these interactions are partly emphasised differently in Finland and Sweden, with distinct justification frameworks at different levels of hybridity, shaped by national characteristics and geopolitical contexts.

Lien / Link

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Farmers’ practices in hybrid food networks in peri-urban China: integrating socio-material qualities and conventions theory

Yun Xu, Min Zhang, Peipei Chen & Niels Fold (2025)

Geoforum, 167,104455

Abstract. The reflective concept of hybrid food networks (HFNs) contributes to explore the interplay between conventional and alternative food networks but provides limited insight into the internal dynamics shaped by farmers’ practices in supplying quality food. This study investigates these dynamics by examining how farmers negotiate food quality through everyday production and distribution practices. Drawing on convention theory and socio-material perspectives, food quality is approached as a socio-material construct shaped by multiple, and often conflicting, conventions, including market, industrial, ecological, and domestic. Based on in-depth interviews with smallholders and agricultural enterprises in peri-urban China, the findings show that (1) HFNs represent pragmatic responses through which farmers reconcile ecological and social values with mainstream market demands for material qualities; (2) food quality emerges from the continuous negotiation of diverse conventions, supported by material elements such as ecological resources, technologies, and infrastructures; and (3) smallholders, despite their experiential knowledge and cost-effective ecological practices, remain structurally marginalised within HFNs due to unequal access to infrastructure and policy support. By situating the analysis in peri-urban contexts, the study demonstrates how farmers mobilise material elements across scales within HFNs. In doing so, it extends the convention framework by showing that food quality negotiation is contingent on social and spatial relations, thereby advancing relational perspectives on place in agri-food geography. The study also underscores the importance of HFNs for fostering sustainable and inclusive transformations in Chinese peri-urban areas, with broader implications for other developing countries.

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“It would have been odd to separate the animals and then look the cow in the eyes“. A qualitative study of Norwegian dairy farmers

Logstein Brit, Gunn-Turid Kvam, Juni Rosann Engelien Johanssen & Hugh Cambell (2026)

Sociologia Ruralis, 66(2): 1-15

Abstract. Farmers’ rearing practices in livestock production and their decision to adopt alternative practices are of ongoing interest in rural sociology. For social scientists examining alternative agriculture, enduring questions remain about not only how alternatives can emerge but also how mainstream systems often remain relatively unperturbed by the emergence of alternative practices. This article explores these questions through an examination of cow–calf contact (CCC) in Norway. In the industrial dairy sector in the Global North, the removal of dairy calves shortly after calving has become an emerging concern within veterinarian medicine and ethology. In this study, we explored why dairy farmers decide to change rearing practices to CCC systems where calves have contact with the dam for more than 14 days in dairy production, an alternative practice which misaligns with wider practices in the industrial dairy sector. The paper reports the results of qualitative interviews with Norwegian farmers who use these alternative practices and, using Convention Theory (CT), addresses the on-farm and off-farm dynamics that shape both the emergence as well as the current marginalisation of this new alternative practice of calf and cow rearing in dairy farming. The results of the study reveal multiple dynamics shaping the adoption of CCC. The results reveal the way that farmers have the ability to draw on multiple justifications which enable CCC adoption despite significant structural misalignment with Norway’s industrial dairy sector. The conclusions support the arguments of social scientists engaging with animal welfare about the importance of societal dynamics both outside and within agricultural systems. How these social dynamics connect with on-farm contexts is highly influential in shaping animal rearing practices and associated farmer justifications. The use of CT demonstrates clearly that creating better animal welfare practices, in this case through the adoption of CCC, is not simply a matter of education, policy or technical interventions. It requires wider alignments between worlds of production, often in hybrid forms, or else the solid industrial centre of these kinds of farming world simply endures relatively untroubled and unchallenged.

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From quantity to quality? A conventionalist re-reading of Argentina’s wine industry reconversion process

Juan Ignacio Staricco (2026)

Journal of Rural Studies, 124

Abstract. This article revisits the so-called “reconversion” of Argentina’s wine industry through the lens of Convention Theory (CT). While much of the empirical literature on Argentina’s reconversion frames this transformation as a shift from a quantity to a quality paradigm, such accounts often leave underexamined a central question: how is quality defined in the first place? Drawing on CT, I argue that reconversion is better understood not as a simple transition from quantity to quality, but as a process of diversification and reconfiguration of the conventions through which wine quality is interpreted, justified and enacted. Based on a critical analysis of the literature, in-depth interviews and key policy and industry documents, the paper shows that the dual structure emerging from reconversion cannot be adequately understood without accounting for the changing constellation of quality conventions that began to take shape in the 1980s. Furthermore, owing to Argentina’s sui generis status as a “New World old producer”—combining a long-standing mass-production and domestic consumption model with a late, export-oriented reconversion—the empirical analysis shows how this singular trajectory produces distinctive patterns of resignification and hybridization of quality conventions. This reading contributes to the literature on Argentina’s wine sector by offering a more fine-grained interpretation of a pivotal historical process and advances CT through the further development of wine-specific ideal-typical quality conventions and the identification of original processes of resignification and hybridization in a “New World old producer” context.

Highlights

  • Reinterprets Argentina’s wine reconversion through Convention Theory.
  • Further develops six ideal-typical quality conventions for the wine sector.
  • Challenges the “quantity vs. quality” narrative in wine sector change.
  • Shows quality as contested and shaped by shifting conventions.
  • Reveals how Argentina’s dual model stems from competing conventions.

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Actors justifying policies and strategies in the face of climate change – Examples from two oil and gas-related regions in institutionally contrasting nations

Asbjørn Karlsen (2026)

Geoforum, 171, 104592.

Abstract. To understand how energy transitions take place in practice, they must be examined from the perspective of key actors—their actions, positions, and regional contexts. The use of Varieties of Capitalism concepts to study regional energy transitions—and their inadequacy for this purpose—serves as a point of departure. The paper draws predominantly on convention theory, which focuses on how actors engage with multiple conventions when coordinating economic activity and exchange. As a theoretical contribution to the energy transition debate, the paper develops a framework that relates conventions to territorial embeddedness, temporality, and sustainability. The author investigates how actors justify actions in specific contexts in the face of climate change.
From a multi-scalar perspective, the paper examines how key actors justify policies and strategies in two O&G-related regions that belong to nations with different institutional legacies shaping their carbon exit strategies. It argues that Norway and its industrial town of Verdal have pursued a dual strategy by developing renewable technologies alongside the continued operation of the oil and gas sector, interpreted as a process of green conversion. This is explained as a product of Norway’s distinctive coordinated market economy, also reflected at the local scale. By contrast, Aberdeen’s oil history reflects the characteristics of the UK’s liberal market economy. Recently, governments in UK and Scotland have pursued a fast-track phase-out of O&G in parallel with just transition initiatives interpreted as a process of green layering. Relations between actors and across scales appear more conflictual in the UK than in Norway.
 

Highlights

  • Industrialists and politicians are obliged to justify actions in specific contexts in the face of climate change.
  • The industrial town, Verdal, reflects Norway’s coordinated market economy, while Aberdeen exemplifies the UK’s liberal market economy.
  • Norway and Verdal develop renewables while continuing oil and gas operations, interpreted as a ‘green conversion’.
  • The UK and Scotland are pursuing a fast‑track phase‑out of oil, in parallel with just transition initiatives interpreted as ‘green layering’.
  • Relations between actors and across scales appear more conflictual in the UK than in Norway.

Lien / Link