Economic-mathematical model of the institutional option as a new approach to the institutions quality assessment

The paper presents an original economic-mathematical model formalizing the institutional option concept as a compromise between two contradictory principles of institutional research: social determinism and methodological individualism. The model is based on the problem-oriented research paradigm, implemented by matrix methods of linear algebra, takes into account the behavior of actors de jure and de facto. This allows formal and informal institutions to be included in the analysis and for their quality to be assessed. The model's quality measure is the gap degree between de jure and de facto institutional option of the problem "field" of institutional environment particular carrier. The model's practical value lies in expanding and deepening of the institutional research subject and improving the quality of evaluations in general. The institutional option model is empirically realizable, its application makes it possible to assess the quality of both individual institutions and their combinations and the institutional environment as a whole, as well as to compare different institutional options in terms of content and breadth over time. The model's advantages are useful in identifying the institutional lock-in effect of different nature and different institutional environment carriers.