Abstract
Standards of compatibility have gained considerable attention in recent economic modelling in industrial economics (for example, Gilbert (ed.), 1992) as well as in public policy (see Commission of the European Communities, 1991).1 Within large technical systems (e.g. railway systems, telecommunications systems) the complicated procedure of standard-setting has gained particular attention (e.g. Weinkopf, 1993, Genschel and Werle, 1992). Hierarchical control of standard-setting within network monopolies is considered no longer appropriate due to the recent trend towards vertical disintegration, deregulation and internationalization (for further discussion, see Knieps, 1993). As a consequence of the growing number of interfaces between decentralized subsystems, alternative external institutions, in particular committees, markets and regulatory commissions, play an increasing role within the standardization processes.
Critical comments by Charles B. Blankart and Lüder Gerken on an earlier version of this paper are gratefully acknowledged.
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Knieps, G. (1995). Standardization: The Evolution of Institutions versus Government Intervention. In: Gerken, L. (eds) Competition among Institutions. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/9781349242627_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/9781349242627_11
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