Economic Sociology

Catalog description

This course serves as a graduate-level survey of the field of economic sociology. While encompassing a variety of theoretical and methodological orientations, economic sociologists seek broadly to understand the role of social forces in the organization of economic life. As such, theory and research in economic sociology extends, refines, and sometimes critiques complementary perspectives from economics, management, psychology, industrial organization, and other social science fields. The topics emphasized in the course will include the "embeddedness" of economic action in social structure; the role of institutional logics and myths in economic and organizational behavior; structure and change in markets and organizational fields; the role of politics in the economy; how social networks affect economic activity; the role of culture in economic action; patterns of consumption and valuation; trust and uncertainty; and the diffusion of innovations. By the end of the course, students should have a broad understanding of the field of economic sociology and be able to apply knowledge from this field in their own research.