Operationalizing institutions: a theoretical framework and methodological approach for assessing the robustness of social institutions

ABSTRACT Social institutions are relatively stable patterns of behaviour or joint action that help overcome fundamental problems and perform a function in society. Despite the importance of social institutions, scholars find it difficult to identify and assess their robustness empirically. Building on institutionalism theories, we develop a theoretical framework of institutional robustness, where robustness describes ideal, long-lasting, or otherwise strong institutions. This framework combines three dimensions drawn from the literature on institutional variation: degree of institutionalization, breadth of scope, and properties of quality. Using literature and theory, we propose definitions of robustness in each dimension and suggest that robust social institutions are robust in all dimensions. Moreover, we propose that robust meta-institutions are composed of individual robust institutions. For future application of the framework, we develop a methodological approach that follows a transparent procedure. We also include an example outlining how scholars can apply the framework in empirical work. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT