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The Academic Contract: From “Simply a Metaphor” to Technology

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Transformations in Research, Higher Education and the Academic Market

Part of the book series: Higher Education Dynamics ((HEDY,volume 39))

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Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to shed light on the ontological assumptions that underlie the idea of a contract in Academic Capitalism. Far from being “simply a metaphor”, there are now concrete examples of real contracts in Swedish universities, which we here designate “academic contracts”. In investigating the perceived function of academic contracts, we will try to answer this fundamental question: For which problem, in what conception, is signing a contract between a student and an academic teacher a solution? By analysing four existing academic contracts from Swedish universities through the lens of a very influential economic theory of the nature and function of contracts, New Institutional Economics (NIE), we will argue that the implementation of academic contracts is totally at odds with the Humboldtian tradition and the classic university. Our contention is that the introduction of academic contracts does not facilitate, but rather undermines, the academic teaching and learning process.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    All translations from Swedish original into English are by the authors of this chapter.

  2. 2.

    For exposés and definitions of NIE, see, for example, Eggertsson (1990); Furubotn and Richter (1997).

  3. 3.

    Ankarloo’s PhD thesis forms a critique of New Institutional Economics. For concise summaries of the foundations of this critique, see Ankarloo (2002); Ankarloo and Palermo (2004).

  4. 4.

    See, for example, Williamson (1985: 16): “[Transaction cost economics] applies to the study of economic organizations of all kinds” or Barzel (1989: 98–99): “The property rights approach applies to all human behaviour and all human institutions”.

  5. 5.

    For general overviews of New Public Management concerning Sweden, see Almqvist (2006), Hasselbladh et al. (2008) and Christensen et al. (2005).

  6. 6.

    The necessity of “opportunism” in explaining the firm (labour contract) has been questioned. For critiques of Williamson in this regard, see Hodgson (2004); Love (2010).

  7. 7.

    The “shirking” explanation of the firm in NIE is associated with Alchian & Demsetz (1972). In their view the firm arises when “/…/ it is difficult to restrict shirking through simple market exchange between contracting inputs” (1972: 783, emphasis added).

  8. 8.

    Cf. “Transaction cost analysis /…/ is appropriate for studying the frictions in the system which may prevent the implications of received micro-theory from going through” (Williamson 1974: 1495).

  9. 9.

    See Williamson (1985: 90): “/…/choice between firm and market thus turns entirely on governance cost difference”.

  10. 10.

    A property right is defined as the right (a) to use, (b) to derive an income from and (c) to exchange an asset (Furubotn and Richter 1991: 6).

  11. 11.

    “A theory of the state is essential because it is the state that specifies the property rights structure” (North 1981: 17).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Jan Waldenströms gata 25, SE-214 28, Malmö, Sweden

    Daniel Ankarloo Ph.D. & Torbjörn Friberg Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Daniel Ankarloo Ph.D.
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  2. Torbjörn Friberg Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Ankarloo Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Dept. of Philosophy, Uppsala University, Thunbergsvägen 3H, Uppsala, 751 26, Sweden

    Sharon Rider

  2. , Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Kyrkogårdsg. 10, Uppsala, 751 20, Sweden

    Ylva Hasselberg

  3. , Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Kyrkogårdsg 10, Uppsala, 751 20, Sweden

    Alexandra Waluszewski

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Ankarloo, D., Friberg, T. (2013). The Academic Contract: From “Simply a Metaphor” to Technology. In: Rider, S., Hasselberg, Y., Waluszewski, A. (eds) Transformations in Research, Higher Education and the Academic Market. Higher Education Dynamics, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5249-8_13

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