IGNOU BOOK | Economic Sociology[English medium] BSOC-108

Product Overview & Details

BSOC-108: Economic Sociology

BSOC-108 – Economic Sociology is an IGNOU Sociology course that studies the relationship between economic activities and social life. It explains how economic behaviour—such as production, consumption, exchange, work and markets—is influenced by society, culture, institutions, power and social relationships.

What is Economic Sociology?

In simple words, Economic Sociology studies the economy from a sociological perspective.

Traditional economics often focuses on prices, markets, demand, supply and rational decision-making. Economic sociology asks broader questions:

• Why do people behave differently in economic situations?
• How do family, caste, class, religion and culture influence economic decisions?
• How are markets connected with social relationships?
• How do capitalism and economic institutions affect society?
• How do economic changes produce social change?

Major topics you should understand

1. Meaning and Scope of Economic Sociology

• Concept and development of economic sociology
• Relationship between sociology and economics
• Social dimensions of economic activities

1. Classical Thinkers

• Karl Marx: capitalism, class conflict, labour, surplus value and exploitation
• Max Weber: economic action, rationality, capitalism and Protestant ethics
• Émile Durkheim: division of labour, solidarity and social integration
• Karl Polanyi: economy as embedded in society

1. Economic Institutions

• Production
• Distribution
• Exchange
• Consumption
• Property and ownership
• Money and markets

1. Work and Labour

• Division of labour
• Organisation of work
• Industrialisation
• Labour relations
• Formal and informal work
• Changing nature of employment

1. Markets and Social Relationships

• Markets as social institutions
• Social networks and economic transactions
• Trust and cooperation
• Role of culture in economic behaviour

1. Capitalism and Social Change

• Development of capitalism
• Industrialisation
• Commodification
• Class formation
• Economic inequality

1. Indian Economy and Society

• Caste and occupation
• Class and economic inequality
• Rural and urban economy
• Informal sector
• Globalisation and changing economic relations