TY - JOUR T1 - Problem Field of Informal Institutions AU - Tsvetkova, Galina S. AU - Filatova, Anna V. JO - The Social Sciences VL - 11 IS - 8 SP - 1705 EP - 1710 PY - 2016 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1818-5800 DO - sscience.2016.1705.1710 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=sscience.2016.1705.1710 KW - Informal institutions KW -social capital KW -economic mentality KW -informal KW -spontaneous KW -anti-institutions AB - The study explores methodological approaches to the definition of the basic unit of institutional research institution. Essential characteristics of formal and informal institutions are summarized their common properties and distinctive features are presented. The researchs define informal economic institutions as a spontaneous order of creating economic relationships which allows participants to meet their economic interests through the use of informal networks. The esearchs emphasize that the study of informal institutions should include not only negative but also positive aspects of these phenomena. Problem field of informal institutions should include not only “anti-institutions” but also public goods (social capital). The study examines the contribution of Russian and foreign scientists to the study of informal institutions. It highlights the differences between Russian and foreign informal institutions. ER -