Having empirically identified institutions as critical determinants of socioeconomic outcomes, social scientists are starting to turn their attention to empirically identifying sources of institutional change. Rational choice scholars offer two theories of such change: conflict theory and cooperation theory. We highlight crucial but easily overlooked methodological issues involved in attempting to evaluate these theories empirically. To do so, we critically examine Coleman and Mwangi’s study of property evolution among Maasai pastoralists in Kajiado, Kenya. Lessons from our examination, we hope, will help this burgeoning area of research proceed productively.

中文翻译：

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检验制度变迁的理性选择理论

在根据经验将制度确定为社会经济成果的关键决定因素后，社会科学家开始将注意力转向根据经验确定制度变化的来源。理性选择学者提供了两种关于这种变化的理论：冲突理论和合作理论。我们强调了试图凭经验评估这些理论所涉及的关键但容易被忽视的方法论问题。为此，我们批判性地研究了 Coleman 和 Mwangi 对肯尼亚卡加多马赛牧民财产演变的研究。我们希望从我们的考试中吸取的教训将有助于这个新兴的研究领域富有成效地进行。