|
|
The Market as a Social Space
| |
On the meaningful extra-economic conversations that can occur in markets
|
Review of Austrian Economics, 21 (2 & 3) 2008. Winner FEE Prize for the best article in Austrian Economics (2009). Templeton Enterprise Article Award Winner, 2nd Place (2009).
|
Abstract
Prominent economic sociologist Richard Swedberg has argued that economists have failed to develop a theory of the market that recognizes it as a “social phenomenon in its own right.” While this may be true of mainstream economics, the Austrian school’s theory of the market is much richer than the standard view. For Austrians, the market has always been a central concern. And, Austrians have always argued that the market is a social structure where both exchange and competition occurs. Still, Austrians give little more than scant attention to the non-economic sociality that occurs in markets. The market, however, is both a conversation and an arena where meaningful conversations can occur. This paper is an effort to focus attention on the market as a social space where social activity (beyond competition and exchange) takes place and where economic relationships as well as non-economic relationships develop.
|
 Download "The Market as a Social Space" (PDF or MS Word)
|
virgil storr, ph.d.
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
3301 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 450, Arlington, VA 22201
(703)993-8127; fax: (703) 993-4935
vstorr@gmu.edu
Last Updated: June 2010
|