02518 - Sociology of Economics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have the tools - conceptual and methodological - for reading economic phenomena in a perspective sensitive to their social, cultural, historical and institutional dimensions. She will be able to distinguish between formal and substantial conceptions of economy, to identity main conceptual alternatives in the analysis of the economic life, and to compare and assess the model of economic life in which she is living.

Course contents

The course offers those instruments useful for an understanding of social, historical and cultural aspetcs of contemporary economy, moving from a critical discussion of economic theory and passing thorugh the sociological classics (Weber, Durkheim, Simmel and Marx) and contemporary scholars (like Bourdieu, Zelizer, DiMaggioand Granovetter) who work in the field of so called "new economic sociology". Special attention will be devoted to the case of professions as instance of social construction of markets and integration between economic and cultural factors.

What is economic sociology

From the classics to the "new economic sociology"

The social construction of economic relations

Cultural economy, cultural production and cultural capital

The case of the professions

Readings/Bibliography

P. Steinert, Economia, mercati, società, Bologna, Il Mulino 2012 (new edition)

P. Bourdieu, Ragioni pratiche, Bologna, Mulino 2009 (Introduzione by M. Santoro + Premessa, Capp. I, II, V, VI).

M. Santoro (a cura di) La cultura come capitale, Bologna, Mulino 2009 (Introduzione + 3 chapters free choice).

T. Parsons, Professioni e libertà (a cura di M. Santoro), Roma, Armando 2011.

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Marco Santoro