Theoretical isolation and explanatory progress: transaction cost economics and the dynamics of dispute

Two related goals are pursued. First, the development of, and debates around Oliver Williamson's version of transaction cost economics are organised in terms of an emerging metatheoretical framework. It proposes looking at economic theorising and its changes in terms of rival theoretical isolations which are often responses to challenging explanatory questions. As a side product, Williamson's strategy of theorising is portrayed. Second, using transaction cost economics as an illustration and as a source of inspiration, the paper amends and refines the earlier framework of theoretical isolation by incorporating notions of explaining and explained items; notions of progress (in questions as well as increased causal penetration and increased degree of unification); and the notion of the dynamics of dispute. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.