What are the links among industrial structure, segmentation, the internal structure of firms, job characteristics, technology, productivity, labor markets, and product markets? The answers, posited by a distinguished group of sociologists and economists, have gained resonance as the field of economic sociology has grown. In this expanded edition, the editors and their economist colleague, Kevin Lang, explore the theoretical interstices and update the references.
Sociologists and economists have responded differently to work within the other discipline. For some sociologists, the typical economic assumption of basic actors engaged in rational action is both unrealistic and objectionable. Other sociologists have not always agreed with everything economists do, they have seen "rational choice" as a partially true description of human behavior and as a starting point for sociological theorizing. Among economists, the situation is quite different: most have maintained their basic rational choice model while pushing aggressively into substantive areas previously addressed only by sociologists and political scientists.
Industries, Firms, and Jobs is a welcome reassertion of an old tradition of interdisciplinary research. That tradition has recently weakened, largely because of an enormous expansion of the domain of neoclassical economics. The expansion has fed on two scientific developments: human capital theory and contract theory. This book is an invaluable resource for all economists, sociologists, labor specialists, and business professionals.
Industry Reviews
-This collection of essays explores the relationship between sociology and economics with specific focus on work structures and markets... The essays illustrate the limitations of the conventional approaches in the respective disciplines... The book assumes some familiarity with basic concepts in each discipline. Its level of difficulty is most suited to advanced students or faculty having an interest in theoretical and methodological issues.- --R. L. Hogler, Choice -[T]his volume is very good and should have a significant impact. I can recommend it to students of organizations, labor markets, and social stratification. The theoretical articles make some economic views on the labor market accessible to sociologists and draw relevant comparisons to sociological viewpoints... The empirical articles... are standard sociological treatments of social stratification and industrial organization.- --Trond Petersen, Contemporary Sociology -Industries, Firms, and Jobs undertakes the difficult but important task of integrating sociological and economic perspectives on employment... Industries, Firms, and Jobs is likely to interest anyone studying employment. The book discusses some exciting new issues and approaches and reminds researchers of the importance of some old problems that remain unsolved.- --Alison Davis-Blake, Administrative Science Quarterly -[T]he essays are uniformly first-rate. As such, they should be considered as -must reading- for both labor economists and organizational behavior sociologists who are concerned with the intellectual content and the future direction of their fields.- --Vernon M. Briggs, Jr., Social Forces "This collection of essays explores the relationship between sociology and economics with specific focus on work structures and markets... The essays illustrate the limitations of the conventional approaches in the respective disciplines... The book assumes some familiarity with basic concepts in each discipline. Its level of difficulty is most suited to advanced students or faculty having an interest in theoretical and methodological issues." --R. L. Hogler, Choice "[T]his volume is very good and should have a significant impact. I can recommend it to students of organizations, labor markets, and social stratification. The theoretical articles make some economic views on the labor market accessible to sociologists and draw relevant comparisons to sociological viewpoints... The empirical articles... are standard sociological treatments of social stratification and industrial organization." --Trond Petersen, Contemporary Sociology "Industries, Firms, and Jobs undertakes the difficult but important task of integrating sociological and economic perspectives on employment... Industries, Firms, and Jobs is likely to interest anyone studying employment. The book discusses some exciting new issues and approaches and reminds researchers of the importance of some old problems that remain unsolved." --Alison Davis-Blake, Administrative Science Quarterly "[T]he essays are uniformly first-rate. As such, they should be considered as "must reading" for both labor economists and organizational behavior sociologists who are concerned with the intellectual content and the future direction of their fields." --Vernon M. Briggs, Jr., Social Forces
