The purpose of this dissertation is to bring institutional economic theory into synthesis with aspects of pluralist political theory, and relate the results in terms of urban affairs.
The research method was bibliographic. Selected works from each body of theory were examined, the elements to be used in the synthesis were selected, and the selected elements were combined in the dissertation.
Building on a concept of an ends-means continuum (John Dewey and Clarence.Ayres), the question addressed is: How are the tensions between backward-clinging ceremonialism and progressive technology (Thorstein Veblen and Clarence Ayres) resolved into institutional change and progress? Collective action (John Commons) provides an answer. And the aspects of collective action dealing with changes in laws yield to theories of interest-group politics (David Truman, Earl Latham, and Robert Dahl). The Results appear to have good explanatory power regarding both technological and institutional bases of urbanization.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pdx.edu/oai:pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu:open_access_etds-3813 |
| Date | 01 January 1979 |
| Creators | Blodgett, Forrest Clinton |
| Publisher | PDXScholar |
| Source Sets | Portland State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations and Theses |
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