Universität Wien

040201 KU Advanced Economic Sociology (MA) (2024W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Tu 03.12. 16:45-20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 10.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 9 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 10.12. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 17.12. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 07.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 14.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 21.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 28.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Starting from the sociological concept of 'embeddedness', we will try to understand the economy and the quest for scarce goods focusing on three forms of (market) integration: reciprocity, exchange, and redistribution. Understanding economy as embedded in social and cultural institutions will help us to focus on the interrelationship between structure and agency, central to sociological analyses. To do that we will read several theoretical “classics” to get a basic understanding how economic relationships can be understood from a sociological viewpoint. Based on this, we will consider whether these theoretical models can help us understand empirical phenomena.
All students have to read the compulsory readings ahead of lessons and answer several questions based on these texts. Students will present the texts and their own ideas. At the end of the semester students will produce a research proposal on the topic of their choice, which builds on the concepts learned in class and extrapolates empirical designs.

Assessment and permitted materials

The seminar is "prüfungsimmanent" meaning that students will be assessed throughout the entirety of the taught lessons. Ahead of every lesson students will have to answer short questions based on the mandatory readings. Together in small groups students will give a presentation discussing an empirical research question and a fitting research design explaining how they would conduct the research based on the relevant topics of the course. Students are expected to actively participate in the course by participating in the discussions following the presentations. Students are required to take two written exams. The first exam is based on the compulsory readings of the course and will include three open questions, of which two have to be answered. The final exam will entail the formulation of a research question and hypothesis deducted from theory based on one of the topics of the course.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The minimum requirement for receiving a positive grade includes the attendance of the course (max. 2 absences), the duly upload of the answer to the questions based on the compulsory readings, a presentation, and a positive grade on the two written exams.
Grade criteria:
• Answers to the exercise questions based on the compulsory readings (20%)
• Presentation (30%)
• Written exam I based on compulsory readings (20%)
• Written exam II based on research question and hypothesis (30%)

Examination topics

Work based on literature, which will be fully introduced in the first session.

Reading list

Adloff F and Mau S. (2006) Giving Social Ties, Reciprocity in Modern Society. European Journal of Sociology 47: 93-123.
Alesina A and Giuliano P. (2011) Preferences for Redistribution. In: Benhabib J, Bisin A and Jackson MO (eds) Handbook of Social Economics. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 93-131.
Arts W and Gelissen J. (2002) Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism or More? A State-of-the-Art Report. Journal of European Social Policy 12: 137-158.
Beckert J and Wehninger F. (2013) In the Shadow: Illegal Markets and Economic Sociology. Socio-Economic Review 11: 5-30.
Beckert J. (2011) Where Do Prices Come From? Sociological Approaches to Price Formation. Socio-Economic Review 9: 757-786.
Brewster Stearns L and Mizruchi MS. (2005) Banking and Financial Markets. In: Smelser N and Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 284-306.
Carruthers BG. (2005) The Sociology of Money and Credit. In: Smelser N and Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 355-378.
Falk A and Szech N. (2013) Morals and Markets. Science 340: 707-711.
Fehr E and Gintis H. (2007) Human Motivation and Social Cooperation: Experimental and Analytical Foundations. Annual Review of Sociology 33: 43-64.
Fligstein N and Dauter L. (2007) The Sociology of Markets. Annual Review of Sociology 33: 105-128.
Gallie D. (2007) Production Regimes and the Quality of Employment in Europe. Annual Review of Sociology 33: 85-104.
Gouldner A. (1960) The Norm of Reciprocity: A Preliminary Statement. American Sociological Review 25: 161-178.
Granovetter M. (1985) Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness. The American Journal of Sociology 91: 481-510.
Guala F. (2012) Reciprocity: Weak or Strong? What Punishment Experiments Do (and do not) Demonstrate. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 35: 1-59.
Huber E and Stephens JD. (2005) Welfare States and the Economy. In: Smelser NJ and Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. New York: Russell Sage, 552-574.
Krippner GR and Alvarez AS. (2007) Embeddedness and the Intellectual Projects of Economic Sociology. Annual Review of Sociology 33: 219-240.
Liebig S and Sauer C. (2015) Sociology of Justice. In: Sabbagh C and Schmitt M (eds) Handbook of Social Justice Theory and Research. Berlin: Springer, 37-59.
Mauss M. (1968 [1925]) Die Gabe. Die Form und Funktion des Austauschs in archaischen Gesellschaften, Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp.
Molm LD, Collett JL and Schaefer DR. (2007) Building Solidarity through Generalized Exchange: A Theory of Reciprocity. American Journal of Sociology 113: 205-242.
Portes A and Sensenbrenner J. (1993) Embeddedness and Immigration: Notes on the Social Determinants of Economic Action. American Journal of Sociology 98: 1320-1350.
Portes A. (1998) Social Capital: Its Origins and Applications in Modern Sociology. Annual Review of Sociology 24: 1-24.
Smelser NJ and Swedberg R. (2005) Introducing Economic Sociology. In: Smelser NJ and Swedberg R (eds) Handbook of Economic Sociology (2nd ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 3-25.
Smith-Doerr L and Powell WW. (2005) Networks and Economic Life. In: Smelser NJ and Swedberg R (eds) Handbook of Economic Sociology (2nd ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 379-402.
Streeck W. (2005) The Sociology of Labor Markets and Trade Unions. In: Smelser N and Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 254-283.
Swedberg R. (2005) Markets in Society. In: Smelser NJ and Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. New York: Russell Sage, 233-253.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 20.08.2024 15:45