Economics and Sociology

Ràchard Swedberg

ECONOMICS

AND SOCIOLOGY REDEFINING T H E I R BOUNDARIES: CONVERSATIONS WITH ECONOMISTS AND SOCIOLOGISTS

University Press

Contents

Copyright O 1990 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 Wiiam Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In che Uniced Kingdom: Princeron University Press, Chichescer, Wesr Sussex

AU Rights Reserved

Aclmowledgments

L i b q &f Congress Cataloging-in-PublicationData Swedberg, Richard Economics and Sociology : redeiiniig their boundaries : conversations with economists and sociologists/ Richard Swedberg. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0691-04248-9 (alk. paper) ISBN 0-691-00376-9 (pbk. : aik. paper) 1. Economics-Sociological aspects. 2. Sociology. 3. Economists-

Interviews. 4. Sociolo~ists-Interviews.I. Title. KM35.S93 1990

30Mc20

89-10964

This book has been composed in Adobe Laser Garamond Princeton University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and meet the guidelmes for pennuience and durability of the Comminee on Production Guidelines €or Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources Printed in the United Srates of America

Intmduction

I Zbe Contenders 1 Gary S. Becker 2 James S. C o h n

3 George A. Akerlof 4 HarrisonC. WBUe

5 Mark Granovetter 6 OCSver E. WiUàumson

IIT

me Pioneers

7 KennetbJ. A m w Designed 6y Laury A . Egan

8 Albert O. Hirscbman

9 Mancur Olson 10 Tbomas C. ScbeUing

11 NeiZJ. Smelser

IIT Zbe Commentators 12 DanieZBeU

13 Jon Ekier 14 A m a q a S e t t 15 Robert M. Solow

vii

3

16 Artbur L Stincbcombe 17 Aage R S0msen

Acknowledgments

Concluding DìscusszOn Glossary of Names Index

Tws BOOK was conceived and wrinen mostly during the academic year of 1987-1988, which I had the pleasure of spending at the department of sociology at Harvard University. In many ways it was the best year of my life, and I hope that some of the joy of being in Cambridge during those months is reflected in the book. I spent most of my days reading, buying books, talking to people, and slowly working my way through Joseph Schumpeter's work in the Pusey Archives. I originally envisioned ths work as a book about Schumpeterand &+views on economics and sociology. However, after reflecting for some time on Capitalism, Socialism and --____ -- -Daocraz&nd similar works, I kcided that the -issues I ? e y * wan~edto ---, ylor