Showing papers in "Economic Sociology in 2008"

Economic Action and Social Structure: the Problem of Embeddedness

Abstract: The paper deals with the problem of embeddedness of economic behavior in the social relations. This part of the text contains the theoretical definitions of embeddedness. The author analyzes over- and half-socialized concepts of human action in sociology and in economics. The issues of trust and fraud in economic life are in the focus.

Capturing Market From the Economists

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to consider the traditional object of micro-economic analysis from the approach of the “cultural” mediators - advertising agents - and to show the mistakes of traditional differentiation between economic and cultural analysis and well as reduction concepts steaming from it. At the same time the definitions of “market” and “product” will let us use the knowledge more efficiently and make it easier to understand the institutional processes of bordering between markets and products. The knowledge is got from the research of consumption and material culture. Along with the theoretical and substantial statements the paper contains the methodological thesis: ethnographical studies are of principal value not only for their obvious necessity to keep the relations with social practices but also for the basis for further theoretical development. The given task is solved by the analysis of progress by the advertising agency of two products: oil “Johnson’s Baby” and crispy rolls «Energen»

Towards an Institutionalist Political Economy

Abstract: This is a manifest written by Alain Caille on the basis of the lecture series delivered in 2005 in Indonesia by the leading representatives of the non-orthodox French schools of economic thoughts. Initially the text was written in English. Later on in 2007 they published a French version in La Revue du MAUSS. Soon the Spanish translation appeared. Other famous non-orthodox economists and economic sociologists joined this group of authors (RobertBoyer, EricBrousseau,Alain Caille, Oliver Favereau), who signed the document.

Female Labour Migration as a Factor of Social Changes (Example of Qualitative Study)

Abstract: The work of Russian women as hostesses in the night clubs in North-East Asia is the legal business that leads to the illegal activities (sex-services), which relate to the shadow economy. Those girls experienced in hostess plus prostitution strategy face the transformation of values, they come back to Russia with changed psychics as they are sure that under the certain conditions prostitution is the usual type of work like seller or bookkeeper. Such experience in labour migration transforms the women world outlook by changing their moral and ethics, psychological norms and rules of behavior. It means that we face institutional changes here. The advantages of the job of hostess are also under focus. Being holders of changed social conciseness and at the same time successful socio-economic strategy the women-migrants transform gender stereotypes and make the role structure of the society be more difficult.

Downshifting: Stratification Effects

Abstract: The paper deals with the phenomenon of downshifting - the sharp and voluntary downward change of social status, refuse from conventional goods and prestige in order to have personal comfort lifestyle. The author tried to build in this phenomenon into the current classifications and describe the downshifters as a group on the basis of the stratification criteria.

Серия «Русское зарубежье: социально-экономическая мысль». Продолжение. А.Д. Билимович: «Экономический строй освобожденной России»

Abstract: This review of Alexander Kurakin’s from the series “Russians outside of Russia: Social and Economic Thoughts” is about a founder of Peasant Party S. Maslov’s book written at the time of collectivization (1937). Maslov argued that collectivization was a new and unique phenomenon entailed by the Socialist system. What is specifi c about it? Why did Russia face the overall collectivization? What benefi ts did kolkhozes bring to the authorities and peasants? The presented review provides us with answers for these and some other important questions. The Maslov’s book is based on rich empirical evidences including eyewitnesses’ narratives, the Soviet mass media, Communist party leaders’ speeches, etc.

Business Adaptation Of Transnational Corporations To Russian Context: Example Of “STORA ENSO” Company

Abstract: The focus of the paper is on the project model of constant forest use as a business strategy of transnational corporation “Stora Enso”. It was shown how the corporation used the strategic partnership with the Foundation of wild nature in order to build good relations to all the interested parts: local population, state authorities, other companies and scientific society. The paper discloses that the corporation played the role of guide for global rules to the locality: through the certification of forest management and through the spreading its own corporate policy to the branch company. Theoretical analysis is based on the assumptions of institutional isomorphism. The study demonstrates that experience spreading on other companies of this corporation in Russia (mimical isomorphism) faced obstacles sue to the instability of the institutional background of Russian regions during the long term period of economic reforms in Russia.

Symbolic Meanings of Prices: Constructing the Value of Contemporary Art in Amsterdam and New York Galleries

Abstract: The paper discusses the results of the sociological analysis of the price setting on the market of contemporary art. Basing on the in-depth interviews with art dealers in New-York and Amsterdam I focus on the two norms of pricing: the first one keeps the dealers from the price declining; the second impels them to set prices in accordance with the size (of the picture). Relying on these norms I state that price setting is not only economic but also denominative act: despite impersonal business price connotations the actors manage to express a row of cognitive and cultural meanings. Economic theory of signals recognizes that prices have special meanings but reduces their role to the opportunities for getting profit. In humanitarian sciences on the contrary the price meanings have destroying effect. I follow sociological approach according to which the prices, their differences and changes express variety of meanings depending on artist’s reputation, social status of the dealers and the qualities of the art products that are for sale.