This paper explores the presence and consideration of economics in sociology, specifically its classical version. It identifies certain original and independent economic theories, concepts and approaches in classical sociological theory as central and its derivations, implications and extensions of economics as peripheral. The paper argues and demonstrates that classical sociology is far from being the science of noneconomic or irrational phenomena, as often sociologists conceive it and economists perceive it in counter-distinction from economics defined as the science of rational behavior, and indeed encompasses virtually all economic activities and processes, and thus prefigures New Economic Sociology adopting the same approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ECONOMIC sociology, SOCIOECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL groups, SOCIAL institutions, SOCIAL norms
Abstract
In this commentary from sociology, I argue that whilst Lux and Sunega's (2022) plea for "pragmatic socio-economics" is an interesting starting point towards a more interdisciplinary study of issues related to housing market inefficiencies, it makes theoretical sense to strife towards a more ambitious integration of sociology and economics. Contrary to universally applicable emotional, cognitive or even physiological mechanisms, social norms are intricately interwoven with the institutional context in which different social groups enact them. Though "universal" social norms historically lie at the basis of variegated institutional arrangements, the latter over time develop in ways reflective of initial and evolving power relationships. Analyses of recursive relationships between institutions and social norms ideally include issues of power. I illustrate the potential of such a more integrated approach by presenting a "case" from the politics of welfare and labour market reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]