| Statuss(Aktīvs) | Izdruka | Arhīvs(0) | Studiju plāns Vecais plāns | Kursu katalogs | Vēsture |
| Course title | Sociology of Economics |
| Course code | Soci4003 |
| Credit points (ECTS) | 3 |
| Total Hours in Course | 81 |
| Number of hours for lectures | 16 |
| Number of hours for seminars and practical classes | 16 |
| Independent study hours | 49 |
| Date of course confirmation | 22/11/2021 |
| Responsible Unit | Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities |
| Course developers | |
| Dr. sc. soc., asoc. prof. Līga Paula |
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| Prior knowledge | |
| Ekon3084, Basics of Theory of Economics Soci1014, General Sociological Theory Soci2023, Contemporary Sociological Theories |
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| Course abstract | |
| The aim of the study course is to provide students with knowledge about the view of sociology on the economic life of society and to develop skills to analyse the phenomena of economic life, using theoretical concepts and research methods of sociology. The study course considers economy as one of the social institutions, explaining and analysing the social aspects of economic activities related to the production, distribution, exchange and consumption of services and goods. Economic processes in the private and public sectors are analysed from the theoretical perspectives and methodologies of classical and new economic sociology. Along with the analysis of various processes, the course examines economic systems, the social structure of the market, economic organizations and agents of economic action, the role of the state as well as the importance of the environment and sustainability in the economy. | |
| Learning outcomes and their assessment | |
| Knowledge. Understanding of the place and role of economy as a social institution in society (discussion 1, discussion 2); knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological approaches in economic sociology (discussion 1, discussion 2); knowledge of theoretical approaches in sociology for the analysis of economic life (test).
Skills. Ability to analyse and interpret the social aspects of the social institution of economy (test, presentation, case study); ability to evaluate the phenomena of economic life from the perspective of economic sociology (test, presentation, case study); ability to compare theoretical approaches of economic sociology and discuss their strengths and limitations (discussion 1, discussion 2); ability to perform tasks responsibly and on time (presentation, case study); ability to explain and justify their choices (discussion 1, discussion 2, presentation). Competence. Ability to logically explain economic processes and society’s reaction in different economic situations (presentation, case study); ability to reasonably justify the most topical challenges of researching economic processes (discussion 1, discussion 2). |
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| Course Content(Calendar) | |
| 1. The history, development and current problems of economic sociology. - 3 hours
2. The most important theoretical approaches in sociology to the economic life of society. - 2 hours 3. Networks, institutions and culture in the economic life of modern society. - 2 hours 4. Market as a social structure. - 1 hour 5. State, politics and economy. - 1 hour 6. Informal and shadow economy. - 1 hour 7. Sociological analysis of economic organizations. - 1 hour 8. Sociological analysis of entrepreneurship and business management. - 1 hour 9. Fordism and Post-Fordism in economy. - 1 hour 10. Economy and environment. - 1 hour 11. Economic and sociological analysis of consumption. - 1 hour 12. Interaction of economy and other social institutes. - 1 hour List of seminar topics (16 hours) 1.Discussion 1. Classical economic sociology: analysis of the works of K. Marx, M. Weber, E. Durkheim and G. Zimmel. - 2 hours 2.Discussion 2. New economic sociology: analysis of the works of R. Burt, M. Granovetter, V. Zelizer, P. Bourdieu and N. Smelser. - 2 hours 3.Economy as a social institution in different societies and cultures. - 1 hour 4.Test. Theoretical approaches in sociology of society’s economic life. -1 hour 5.Cultural-historical and ethnographic approaches in economic sociology. - 1 hour 6.Market as a social structure. -1 hour 7.The role of the state and political institutions in the economy. - 1 hour 8.Presentation. Studies of informal and shadow economy in Latvia and in the world. - 1 hour 9.Modern forms of economic organizations. - 1 hour 10.Diversity management in the workplace. - 1 hour 11.Advantages and disadvantages of Fordism and Post-Fordism. - 1 hour 12.Case study. Sustainability goals and their implementation practices in companies. - 1 hour 13.Consumer research in Latvia and in the world. - 1 hour 14.Interaction of economy and other social institutes from the point of view of different sociological paradigms. - 1 hour |
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| Requirements for awarding credit points | |
| Formal test with a grade. The final assessment is cumulative on the following topics and tasks: 1) Classical economic sociology: analysis of the works of K. Marx, M. Weber, E. Durkheim and G. Zimmel (discussion 1 - 20%); 2) New economic sociology: analysis of the works of R. Burt, M. Granovetter, V. Zelizer, P. Bourdieu and N. Smelser (discussion - 20%); 3) Theoretical approaches in sociology of society’s economic life (test - 20%); 4) Studies of informal and shadow economy in Latvia and in the world (presentation - 20%), 5) Sustainability goals and their implementation practices in companies (case study – 20%).
Study process in part-time distance learning is organised in accordance with the Order of the Vice-Rector of Studies No. 2.4.-5/59 On distance learning procedures at LBTU. Study courses are scheduled for each semester according to the study plan. The students learn the topics included in the study course independently, using the materials created and placed by the lecturer in the e-studies (Moodle). Feedback on the learning of lecture and seminar topics in distance learning is organised in the form of self-assessment tests, discussion forums and independent work, as well as in face-to-face or online consultations, lectures and final examinations according to the timetable. |
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| Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work | |
| Literature studies, preparation of the presentation and the case study. | |
| Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes | |
| Students must be prepared for two discussions (40%), they must pass the test (20%), prepare one presentation (20%) and conduct the case study (20%). | |
| Compulsory reading | |
| 1.Smelser N.J., Swedberg R. (Eds.) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. New York: Princeton University Press, 2005. 330 p. Pieejams: https://www.academia.edu/39979898/The_Handbook_of_Economic_Sociology_By_Neil_J_Smelser?auto=download
2.Fevre R. The New Sociology of Economic Behaviour. London: SAGE Publications, 2003. 275 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=251352&site=ehost-live&scope=site 3.Koniordos M.S. Networks, Trust and Social Capital: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations from Europe. Routledge, 2016. 294 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1480890&site=ehost-live&scope=site 4.Portes A. Economic Sociology: A Systematic Inquiry. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2010. 307 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=329852&site=ehost-live&scope=site 5.Swedberg R., Pinch T. J. (Eds). Living in a Material World: Economic Sociology Meets Science and Technology Studies. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press, 2008. 404 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=248783&site=ehost-live&scope=site 6.Rifkins Dž. Jaunās ekonomikas laikmets. Rīga: Jumava, 2004. 279 lpp. 7.Gleicher D. Beyond Marx and Other Entries. Series: Studies in Critical Social Sciences. Leiden: Brill, 2018. 213 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1635918&site=ehost-live&scope=site 8.Zobena A. (zin. red.) Inovatīvi risinājumi ceļā uz ilgtspēju: sabiedrība, ekonomika, vide. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2018. 294 lpp. Pieejams: www.sustinno.lv/userfiles/sustinno-gramata-A-final(1).pdf 9.Krūmiņa M., Zasova A. (Eds.) Competetiveness of Latvian Enterprises in External Markets. Riga: The Univeristy of Latvia Press, 2018. 238 p. Pieejams: www.sustinno.lv/userfiles/sustinno-gramata-B.pdf |
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| Further reading | |
| 1. Granovetter M. (1985) Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 91(3), pp. 481–510.
2.Burt R. Structural Holes: The social Structure of Competition. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992. 3.Carruthers B.G. Economy/Society: Markets, Meanings, and Social Structure. 2nd ed. London: SAGE, 2013. 240 p. 4.Zafirovski M., Beckert J. International Encyclopedia of Economic Sociology. London: Routledge, 2006. 800 p. 5.Maurer A. (Ed.) Handbook of Economic Sociology for the 21st Century: New Theoretical Approaches, Empirical Studies and Developments. Switzerland: Springer Nature, 2021. 304 p. Pieejams: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-61619-9 6.LeClair E.E., Schneider H.K. (Eds.) Economic Sociology: Readings in Theory and Analysis. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2000. 154 p. 7.James r., Casella A. (Eds.) Networks and Markets. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 204. 221 p. 8.Woolsey Biggart N. Economic Sociology: Readings in Economic Sociology. Malde, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. 365 p. 9.Smelser N.J., Swedberg R. (Eds.) The Sociology of Economic Life. Westview Press, 1992. 399 p. 10.Maesse J., Pühringer S., Rossier T., Benz P. Series: Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 2021, 276 p. eBook. Pieejams elektroniski LLU EBSCOhost datubāzē: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2621842&site=ehost-live&scope=site 11.Beckert J., Dewey M. (Eds.) The Architecture of Illegal Markets: Towards an Economic Sociology of Illegality in the Economy. Oxford: OUP Oxford, 2017. 330 p. |
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| Periodicals and other sources | |
| 1.Economics and Sociology, Online ISSN 2306-3459, Print ISSN 2071-789X. Pieejams: https://www.economics-sociology.eu/
2.The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Online ISSN:1536-7150 Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15367150 3.Economy and Society. Print ISSN 0308-5147, Online ISSN 1469-5766 Pieejams: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/reso20/current 4.Ekonomikas sociologu starptautiskā organizācija Economic Sociology & Political Economy. The Global Community of Academics, Practitioners, and Activists. Pieejams: https://economicsociology.org/ 5.Eurostat. Reconciliation of work and family life – statistics. Pieejams: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Reconciliation_of_work_and_family_life_-_statistics&oldid=511883 |
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| Notes | |
| Elective study course in the ESAF academic bachelor study programme “Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration” | |