GAME-THEORY AND HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS - SELF-ENFORCING, NONMARKET INSTITUTIONS DURING THE LATE-MEDIEVAL PERIOD

Recent development of game theory has enabled expanding the analysis o f historical institutions to examine self-enforcing, non-market instit utions. This paper provides a brief methodological discussion of Histo rical institutional Analysis that utilizes game theory for the study O f such institutions. TO illustrate the methodology, contributions, and potential benefit of this approach, the paper briefly discusses recen t works applying this methodology to the study of institutions during the late medieval period. Particular attention is given to these studi es' implications regarding institutional efficiency and path dependenc e.