Content

The course exists of three parts of equal weight. These parts represent the disciplinary contributions of sociology, psychology and historiography. All illustrate that the analysis of and  reflection about things economic also happens in other social and behavioural sciences. Topics have been chosen in such a way that they illustrate the added value of these disciplines in building a more complete description and analysis of facts, events and institutions related to the economy.

Part I. Economic history

Topic 1.1. Economic growth and inequality (4 hours)

Topic 1.2. Hunger and plenty (4 hours)

Part II. Psychology

Topic 2.1. Choice

Topic 2.2. Reward

Part III. Sociology

Topic 3.1. What we call ‘economy’: the substantive, the historical, and the social

A long-standing tradition in anthropology and sociology, defines what is economic in a much broader sense than is usually done in everyday practice in economics. This so-called ‘substantive  approach of the economy’ is explained, and the consequences of what this conceptualization implies are explored with cases from gift economies and redistribution.

Topic 3.2. Capitalism: too much for one word?

Capitalism in ordinary speech has a distinct politicized undertone. This needs not be the case. In economic sociology, one mostly uses the concept to describe a certain way of organizing the economy, with a central role played by coordination through market exchange. We discuss the meaning of this concept, and discuss major discussions about the general origins and dynamics of capitalism.

Topic 3.3. State formation and the economy

States play a central role in the emergence of modern economies, but conversely (market) economies also created the necessary conditions for states to emerge. War and taxes play a central role in the emergence of modern states. We discuss the general traits of state formation, and discuss its later evolution towards welfare states, with a particular form of tax collection and spending.

Topic 3.4. The economic sociology of underground economies

All forms of economic action that are not (systematically) captured by formal registration and supervision somehow fall under the umbrella concept of underground economies. This multidimensional phenomenon that seems to escape systematic empirical study, because of its elusive nature. We discuss the nature of underground economies, its subsets and the (im)possibilities to measure and account for its existence and functioning.

Course material

Compulsory Course Material

Toledo is being used for this learning activity. More information on the compulsory and recommended course can be found on Toledo.