Divergent Constitution of Liberal Regimes: Comparison of the U.S. and German Automotive Supplier Markets

Abstract

This article investigates, based on in-depth interviews and mail surveys, the different ways liberal market regimes are constituted by looking at two small market societies, the U.S. and German automotive parts markets. In a situation in which neoliberal paradigm is being challenged and prior norms about contracts and contractual relations do not work either, this article explores how different conceptions of fairness and divergent market regimes are constituted. This article claims that divergent market regimes result from different kinds of problem-solving practices in a novel context among reflexive agents—public deliberation versus isolated dyadic deliberation of conflicts.