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2019/2020  BA-BSOCO1810U  Introduction to Economic Sociology

English Title
Introduction to Economic Sociology

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Business Administration and Sociology
Course coordinator
  • Alfred Reckendrees - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy (MPP)
Main academic disciplines
  • Organisation
  • Sociology
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 01-07-2019

Relevant links
Learning objectives
On completion of the two courses Fundamentals of Social Theory and Introduction to Economic Sociology, the student should be able
  • to describe central problems and questions of classical social theory and economic sociology
  • to identify essential similarities and differences between theoretical positions and situate theories within their particular historical, political, economic, and social contexts
  • to identify and discuss competing theoretical explanations while analysing corporate, social, economic, and political problems
  • to reflect upon the relevance of theoretical positions with regard to understanding the social world
  • to write an argumentative paper with a clear structure that meets academic writing standards including correct citation and referencing of literature
Course prerequisites
The courses Introduction to Economic Sociology and Fundamentals of Social Theory have one integrated project exam. You can only participate in Introduction to Economic Sociology if you also register for Fundamentals of Social Theory.
Examination
The course shares exams with
BA-BSOCO1811U
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The objective of this course is to introduce the students to key concepts of Economic Sociology. We study markets and change in society: How do markets work? What do firms do? And how are companies organized?

We are asking these questions because markets are constructed by firms and other actors like the state. They are embedded in social and political structures. We also want to understand why there are varieties of capitalism even within a globalized economy. 

Such relationships as well as interactions within firms are of interest to Economic Sociology and are at the centre of the course. Apart from this, the course also introduces to different types of academic texts.

 
Description of the teaching methods
The course is based on a combination of lectures, student group work and open classroom discussion, and brief presentations.
Preparation includes reading books and articles as well as using online material.

Four brief home assignments aim at providing feedback and supporting the learning process.

Two joined workshops of the courses Introduction to Economic Sociology and Fundamentals of Social Theory will prepare the students for the mid-term assignment and the final exam.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be provided at the end of class. The mid-term assignment is followed by a feedback workshop including peer-to-peer feedback.

Four brief home assignments aim at providing feedback and supporting the learning process.
Student workload
preparing for class (4h per lecture) 56 hours
lectures 28 hours
workshops and exercises 8 hours
mid-term assignment perparation 10 hours
mid-term assignment 18 hours
exam preparation 40 hours
writing the exam project 35 hours
diverse 15 hours
Further Information

This course shares a compulsory mid-term assignment with the course Fundamentals of Social Theory (FST). The mid-term assignment has the form of a 10p. home written project. It is to be written in groups of four students.

 

The primary purpose of the 1st semester is to enable the student to adopt an integrative approach that combines theories and methods the two courses Fundamentals of Social Theory and Introduction to Economic Sociology introduce to. The exam of the courses Fundamentals of Social Theory (FST) and Introduction to Economic Sociology (IES) takes the form of a discussion paper presenting and using concepts and theories from both courses. This paper shall meet academic writing standards, including a clear structure. The courses with its mandatory readings and two joint workshops of FST and IES will prepare for this task.
Expected literature

Textbook

Carruthers, Bruce G. and & Babb, Sarah L. (2013) Economy/Society. Markets, Meanings, and Social Structure (2nd. ed.), Thousand Oaks, Calif. London: SAGE.
(select chapters)

 

Articles will include, f.e.

Block, F. (2002) 'Rethinking Capitalism' In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 219-230.

Fligstein, N. (2002) 'Markets as Politics: A Political-Cultural Approach to Market Institutions' In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 197-218.

Granovetter, M. (2002) 'Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness', In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 69-93.

Schumpeter, J. (1942/1994) 'The Process of Creative Destruction' In Capitalism, Socialism & Democracy. With a New Introduction by R. Swedberg, London & New York, pp. 81-86.

 

Case studies

Last updated on 01-07-2019