Behavioral Theory of the Firm

A Behavioral Theory of the Firm has become a classic work in organizational theory, looking inside the firm to develop new theoretical ideas abnout economic behavior.  The second edition reaffirms the seminal arguments and insights of the first and puts the original text in its contemporary context.

Rejecting the portrayal of the firm found in classical economic theory, the authors focus on the actual behavior of business firms.  Their ideas, which have influenced students of organizations throughout the social sciences, capture the fundamentals of organizational decision making, offering important perspectives not only on economic organizations but also on governmental agencies and educational institutions.

For students and specialists the second edition of this pathbreaking book offers the original theory along with an examination of work that has taken place since the book was originally published.  It provides a new statement of some of the more significant modern ideas for understanding the firm as an organization.