Seminar in Economic Sociology

Catalog description

The seminar in economic sociology explores questions addressed by social scientists studying the social mechanisms that enable economic life. The aim is to introduce the most important and influential texts that have shaped the field of economic sociology. Core problems addressed by seminal texts include: How do social networks and norms enable, motivate and guide economic decisions, behavior, and outcomes? What is the role of trust, reputation and reciprocity in economic action? How do norms and networks influence entrepreneurship, innovation and socio-economic mobility? Why and how do institutions enable economic outcome and behavior? We explore work in the new institutionalism in economic and organizational sociology that have informed the sociological study of markets, organizations, and economic exchange.