Acta Sociologica 

About: Acta Sociologica is an academic journal published by SAGE Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Politics & Welfare state. It has an ISSN identifier of 0001-6993. Over the lifetime, 1903 publications have been published receiving 39277 citations.

Economic Institutions as Social Constructions: A Framework for Analysis:

Abstract: Institutional economics has moved from a position, earlier in the twentieth century, of drawing eclectically on several other disciplines, to a stance of building its arguments almost entirely out of neoclassical materials This paper argues that such a stance cannot provide a persuasive account of economic institutions, and suggests a broader toundation based on classical sociological arguments about the embeddedness of economic goals and activities in socially oriented goals and structures Emphasis is placed on how economic activity comes to be coordinated by groups of people rather than carried out by isolated individuals Firms in developing countries, busmess groups, and the origins of the electrical utility industry in the United States are posed as cases of the 'social construction of economic institutions' It is argued that, although proper analysis of such cases involves a high level of contingency. these contingencies can be taken into account in a systematic theoretical argument, and that histori...

Explaining Society, Critical Realism in the Social Sciences:

Abstract: he revised English edition of this book tlie T original Swcdisli cdition. without tlie subtitle. is froni 1997 should be considered :is i111 important contribution to sociology and social science in general to tlie extent tliat it is a clear and wcll-structured introduction to critical i-disrri, one of the most rccent and vigorous theoretical streams in the field of thc social scicnces. if we take into coiisidcration tlic influential work of hlargaret t\\rclier (1995: Realist Socinl Tlicory: Tlic I\\loriJlio!gciicti(’

The Importance of Different Forms of Social Capital for Health

Abstract: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the concept of social capital and to distinguish its different forms, focusing on their potential effects on health. According to many scholars, social capital comprises social networks, norms of reciprocity or social support and social trust. In this article the core element, the social network, has been further distinguished by the direction of ties and levels of formality, strength and diversity. In the past few years there has been increased interest in social capital in the health field and a great deal of research has suggested that social capital is generally positively related to health. However, little research has been conducted into how different forms of social capital or social networks influence health. What is the difference, for instance, between bonding and bridging social capital in terms of health outcomes? It is important to distinguish the different forms because they imply different resources, support and obligations. More research needs to be conducted into the different forms of social capital and their effects on health. A special focus should be placed on the health impacts of cross-cutting - or bridging and linking - forms of social capital.

Work-Life ‘Balance’ in Europe:

Abstract: Although work-life ‘balance’ is an EU policy priority, within Europe there are considerable variations in the nature and extent of supports that national governments have offered to dual-earner fam...

Welfare States, Solidarity and Justice Principles: Does the Type Really Matter?

Abstract: In this article, we investigate whether and, if so, to what extent, people’s notions of solidarity and their choices of justice principles are related to the type of welfare state regime they live under, as well as to individual socio-demographic and ideological factors. We analyse data from the International Social Survey Program 1996 and the European Values Study 1999, which together cover preferences of citizens from 20 welfare states. Hypotheses pertaining to people’s notions of solidarity and preferences for justice principles in the different welfare state regimes are derived from the work of Esping-Andersen and his critics, as well as from sociological and socialpsychological theories of solidarity and distributive justice. We find important, although not decisive, evidence for the thesis that the actual state of affairs with respect to the welfare state regime under which citizens live determines their views about which level of solidarity should be achieved and which justice principles should be emphasized. However, differences found are often not very pronounced, and we argue that this is a consequence of the fact that values of solidarity and justice are matters of priority to all welfare states. Taking into account the differences which exist between welfare state regimes, we also find important differences between individuals and social groups in their preferred level of solidarity and in their choice of justice principles.