Economic Networks

by Knoke, David

• ISBN13: 9780745649986
• ISBN10: 074564998X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-10-08
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

Social relations are crucial for understanding diverse economic actions and a network perspective is central to that explanation. Simple exchanges involving money, labor, and commodities combine into complexly connected systems. Economic networks span many levels of analysis, from persons (consumers, employees), to groups (households, workteams), organizations (corporations, interest groups), populations (industries, markets) and the rapidly expanding global economic system. David Knoke blends network theories from a range of disciplines and empirical studies of domestic and international economies to illuminate how economic activity is embedded in and constrained by social ties among economic actors. Social capital, in the form of connections to others holding valuable resources, is vital for finding a job, buying a car, creating a new industry, or triggering a global financial crisis. In nontechnical terms the author explicates the core network concepts, measures, and analysis methods behind these phenomena. The book also includes many striking network diagrams to provide visual insights into complex structural patterns. This accessible book offers an invaluable critique for both undergraduate and graduate students in economic sociology and social network analysis courses who seek a better understanding of the multifaceted economic webs in which we are all entangled.

Author Biography

David Knoke is professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Figures

Preface

Economics and Social Networks

Mainstream and Alternative Economic Theories

The Economic Sociology Perspective

The Social Network Perspective

Summary and Outline of the Book

Markets and Networks

Labor Markets

Consumer Markets

Producer Markets

Summary

Networks Inside Organizations

Micro-Network Concepts

Social Capital

Forming Employee Networks

Network Outcomes

Team Networking

Summary

Networks Among Organizations

Business Start-Up Networks

Business Groups

Interlocking Directorates

Strategic Alliances

Evolution of Interorganizational Networks

Summary

Global Networks

International Networks

Supply and Commodity Chains

World Cities Networks

A Transnational Capitalist Class?

Networks of the Global Financial Crisis

Summary

Looking Forward

Theory Construction

Empirical Tools

Connecting Economy and Polity

Appendix: Network Resources

References

Index

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