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Why are there firms?
w“The main reason why it is profitable to establish a firm would seem to be that there is a cost of using the price mechanism.”
nCost of discovering the relevant prices.
lNot completely eliminated by intermediaries.
nCosts of negotiating and concluding a separate contract for each exchange.
lEmployment contract vs. spot contract.
nCosts of coordinating when tasks are uncertain.
Ronald H. Coase (1910-)