Economy/Society; Markets, Meanings, and Social Structure

"The core topics in this engaging book--markets, networks, the workplace, social stratification, economic development, and globalization--are approached with a keen sociological lens, revealing how these diverse economic phenomena are embedded in society in a myriad of ways. ... This book displays the authors' vivid sociological imagination--it tackles big issues and real problems with analytical power and lively ideas. Students, scholars, and, yes, even economists will both enjoy and be rewarded for their time spent with Economy/Society." --Walter W. Powell, Stanford University This book offers an accessible introduction to the various institutional arrangements that govern economic activity, and shows that economic exchanges are deeply embedded in social relationships. It demonstrates that an understanding of how the economy is socially constructed offers rich and novel insights into such topics as advertising, consumer behavior, the diffusion of innovations, conflicts at the workplace, social inequality, and the economic development of nations.

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Economy//Society is an accessible introduction to the ways in which economic exchanges are embedded in social relationships. Bruce Carruthers and Sarah Babb tackle big issues and real problems with analytical power and lively ideas. They offer rich and novel insights into such topics as advertising, consumer behaviour, the diffusion of innovations, conflicts in the work place, social inequality and the economic development of nations.