Market Society
History, Theory, Practice

An exploration of the social structures at the heart of capitalist economies from feudal England through to the modern day.

Benjamin Spies-Butcher (Author), Joy Paton (Author), Damien Cahill (Author)

9780521184908, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 March 2012

278 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

Market Society: History, Theory, Practice explores the social basis of economic life, from the emergence of market society in feudal England to the complex and interwoven markets of modern capitalist society. This lively and accessible book draws upon a variety of theories to examine the social structures at the heart of capitalist economies. It considers how capitalism is constituted, the institutions that regulate economic processes in market society and the experience of living in contemporary market societies. Market Society: History, Theory, Practice provides students of both political economy and economic sociology with a more nuanced understanding of how markets and people interact and how this relationship has influenced the nature and structure of modern economies.

1. Introducing market society
Part I. Constituting Market Society: 2. Production, value, and commodification
3. Growth, accumulation, and crisis
4. Inequality, distribution, and conflict
Part II. Regulating Market Society: 5. States, politics, and welfare
6. Markets, risk, and globalisation
7. Firms, corporations, and competition
Part III. Living Market Society: 8. Work, consumption, and quality of life
9. Family, environment, and sustainability
10. Civil society, community, and participation.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Political science & theory [JPA], Sociology [JHB]