ABSTRACT
Ewa Rabinowicz (Sweden) 1 expressed her belief that most economists now take the view that 'institutions matter', though this has to be coupled with serious questions about exactly how they matter and whether it is possible to choose between alternative sets of arrangement. The subject can quickly become something of a mystery. In the light of this, she wanted to make it clear that the discussion of 'institutions' as a leading part of the conference programme was something that she greatly welcomed. The really difficult issues need more discussion rather than less, even when the results might be rather unsatisfactory.
