SO470      Half Unit
The Sociology of Markets

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Leon Wansleben STC S208

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Economy, Risk and Society , MSc in Political Sociology, MSc in Sociology, MSc in Sociology (Economic Sociology and MSc in Sociology (Research). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

This course offers an introduction to the sociology of markets; theoretical issues, such as market structure, valuation, and the role of the state will be covered; students will also get the chance to study particular markets themselves.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

Reading week: week 6.

Formative coursework

A 1500 word essay is required.

Indicative reading

Recommended texts: Callon, Michel. 1998. The laws of the markets. Blackwell Publishers: Oxford; Fligstein, Neil. 2001. The Architecture of Markets. An Economic Sociology of Twenty-First-Century Capitalist Societies. Princeton, NJ a.o.: Princeton University Press; Granovetter, Mark. 1995[1974]. Getting a Job: a Study of Contacts and Careers. Chicago; London: Chicago University Press; Krippner, Greta R. 2002. "The elusive market: Embeddedness and the paradigm of economic sociology." Theory and Society 30:775-810; Swedberg, Richard. 2003. Principles of Economic Sociology. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in the ST.

Assessment will consist of an essay analysis of two case studies along with the submission of a portfolio (100%).

Two hard copies of the assessed essay, with submission sheets attached to each, to be handed in to the Administration Office, S116, no later than 16:30 on the second Wednesday of Summer Term. An additional copy to be uploaded to Moodle no later than 18:00 on the same day.

Attendance at all workshop sessions and submission of all set coursework is required.

Student performance results

(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 12.7
Merit 58.2
Pass 23.6
Fail 5.5

Key facts

Department: Sociology

Total students 2014/15: 27

Average class size 2014/15: 26

Controlled access 2014/15: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills