Organisations’ pillar or ballast? A rational choice approach to rules

In recent years, the topic of rules has reappeared forcefully at the centre of debate in various fields of knowledge, probably also as a reaction to the phenomenon of non-compliance with rules. While it is true that no complex organisation can exist without relying on an ap- paratus of rules, be they legal or social, on the other hand rules often become a ballast and a brake for organisations. This article describes, through the use of Rational Choice Theory, some aspects of the pe- culiar dynamic between costs and benefits associated with belonging to a social group or complex organisation. In particular, the attempt is to model this dynamic or, at least, to provide some initial indica- tions in this direction, useful for further research.