Social Norms and the Theory of the Firm
A Foundational Approach

For decades, the economic theory of the firm referred to as agency theory has dominated business research and education in the United States. Although agency theory has been influential in accounting, finance, and managerial economics, it lacks informal and nonfinancial controls. Douglas E. Stevens resolves to enhance this theory through the incorporation of social norms. Drawing on historical context related to the firm, the theory of the firm, and social norm theory related to the firm, he demonstrates the importance of social norms in the formation and development of free-market capitalism and the firm. He also describes the latest theoretical, experimental, and archival evidence to exhibit the growing body of research that incorporates social norms into the theory of the firm. These foundations enable Stevens to create a comprehensive roadmap of agency theory that will have strong implications for practice and public policy.

1. The importance of behavioral assumptions in economic theory; Part I. The Foundation: 2. A history of the firm that incorporates social norms; 3. The theory of the firm; 4. Social norm theory related to the firm; Part II. The Evidence: 5. Formal models incorporating social norms into the theory of the firm; 6. Emerging evidence of social norms in experimental research; 7. Emerging evidence of social norms in archival research; 8. Conclusion: 'where do we go from here?'

Douglas E. Stevens studied experimental economics at Indiana University while completing his Ph.D. in accounting. His experimental and theoretical research demonstrates how incorporating social norms enhances the theory of the firm. His research has been published in leading academic journals including The Accounting Review; Contemporary Accounting Research; Accounting, Organizations and Society; Experimental Economics; the Journal of Business Ethics; the Journal of Management Accounting Research; and Behavioral Research in Accounting.