A contribuição da teoria francesa das conveções para os estudos agroalimentares - algumas considerações iniciais

Resumo

This article identifies the points of convergence between the two
principal heterodox traditions of economic analysis in France — regulation
and convention theory and calls attention to their common adoption of an
interdisciplinary perspective. The basic concepts of convention theory
are then discussed, focussing on the processes of qualification which
underlie the production and circulation of commodities, which are then
stabilised in norms, rules and conventions. The principal authors and texts
of this approach are presented and compared with contributions from the
new micro economics and from economic sociology. In the second part of
the article, the author discusses the application of convention theory to
the agrofood sector on the basis of French studies on the development of
quality markets (appellation d 'origine, label rouge) and the establishment
of standards in food markets.