Institutional analysis of standardization systems: an assessment within the framework of the liberalism–dirigisme ındex

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of standardization in the economic system within an institutional framework and substantiates that it is not only a result of economic development but also a product of institutional choices. Unlike traditional approaches, the article demonstrates that cross-country differences in the intensity of standardization are explained not by the level of economic development, but by the structure of national standardization systems.

Within the scope of the research, the Standardization Liberalism–Dirigisme Index (SLDI), developed by the author, has been applied.

Based on an empirical analysis of 39 countries, it has been determined that standardization systems globally are predominantly dirigiste in nature, with SLDI values concentrated in the higher range. At the same time, no statistically significant relationship is observed between the intensity of standardization and the level of economic development. This indicates that standardization is not an automatic function of economic development, but is largely shaped by institutional design and policy choices.

The findings further reveal that even within the same institutional model, diverse structural outcomes may emerge, and that the actual composition of the standard portfolio is one of the key factors determining the nature of a standardization system. In this context, standardization functions as an important instrument of economic policy, and its effectiveness depends directly on institutional structure.