For economic view literature you might find the the general “theory of the firm” space of interest. Also Oi (I believe that’s his last name but cannot recall his first name and searching on that proved rather unrewarding...) as well as Oliver Williamson.
Perhaps an odd suggesting but looking farther back perhaps Hobbes’ Leviathan and both Confucius’ Analytics as well as some of the writing (e.g., Rituals of Zhou) might produce some insights. The thought struck me a while back that in someways Analytics and Leviathan were very similar in they both seems to be pointing at the idea that structures be put in place to produce a good society but somehow be a bit immune to the failings of humans (or put perhaps a bit different lead us to pursue our higher virtues than our baser interests.)
Albert Hirshmann is another author you might like reading a bit as well.
Last, I am not sure if you’re looking for a general theory that can apply to all forms of governance but am of the mind that different settings or group goals (social/political generalized goal governance will be different than corporate/production narrow goal governance) will require different forms to achieve something you might call ideal. I think even being able to make some good boundaries between the two scope (and perhaps more than that broad separating into 2 groups) would be very valuable.
I agree that Hirshmann is going to lay out any plan towards some ideal government but I do think he gets to some of the problems confronting good governance and so shed light on areas that need consideration. (As and aside I am far from hold the view that “ideal” governance is possible—it’s always going to be contextual in both time and place due to the dynamic nature of social life).
If you’ve not already put his “The Passions and the Interests” you might also find it interesting. In the case of ideal governance it may have some pointers to Constitutional structures that are better at aligning interests (if they can be well enough defined) of the government agents with the societal principles while working to mitigate the passions of the agents.
I’ve not read it but looking at the title “Shifting Involvements: Private Interests and Public Action” may also be relevant to thinking things though.
For economic view literature you might find the the general “theory of the firm” space of interest. Also Oi (I believe that’s his last name but cannot recall his first name and searching on that proved rather unrewarding...) as well as Oliver Williamson.
Perhaps an odd suggesting but looking farther back perhaps Hobbes’ Leviathan and both Confucius’ Analytics as well as some of the writing (e.g., Rituals of Zhou) might produce some insights. The thought struck me a while back that in someways Analytics and Leviathan were very similar in they both seems to be pointing at the idea that structures be put in place to produce a good society but somehow be a bit immune to the failings of humans (or put perhaps a bit different lead us to pursue our higher virtues than our baser interests.)
Albert Hirshmann is another author you might like reading a bit as well.
Last, I am not sure if you’re looking for a general theory that can apply to all forms of governance but am of the mind that different settings or group goals (social/political generalized goal governance will be different than corporate/production narrow goal governance) will require different forms to achieve something you might call ideal. I think even being able to make some good boundaries between the two scope (and perhaps more than that broad separating into 2 groups) would be very valuable.
I am reading Hirshmann’s Exit, Voice and Loyalty right now and it’s great. But it’s not about governance per se. Which book did you have in mind?
I agree that Hirshmann is going to lay out any plan towards some ideal government but I do think he gets to some of the problems confronting good governance and so shed light on areas that need consideration. (As and aside I am far from hold the view that “ideal” governance is possible—it’s always going to be contextual in both time and place due to the dynamic nature of social life).
If you’ve not already put his “The Passions and the Interests” you might also find it interesting. In the case of ideal governance it may have some pointers to Constitutional structures that are better at aligning interests (if they can be well enough defined) of the government agents with the societal principles while working to mitigate the passions of the agents.
I’ve not read it but looking at the title “Shifting Involvements: Private Interests and Public Action” may also be relevant to thinking things though.