Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course offers an introduction to the sociology of firms and to the sociology of markets. It aims to promote understanding and discussion of the social, organisational and political phenomena that make up firms and markets, as well as the interactions between these two phenomenas.
First, we will rigorously define the concepts of firm and market by drawing on various theoretical frameworks. The concept of firm refers to a unit of production of goods and services that has developed over time, in the course of history; an organisation that brings together actors, socio-technical systems, exchanges, rules and contracts; an institution assigned responsibilities (civic, social, educational) in its relations with society and with other institutions (school, family, culture, religion, etc.). The concept of market refers to a variety of empirical realities (from the flower market to the professional footballers' market) and various forms of organisation of economic exchanges in society. These forms are all characterised by two types of relationship: dual competition (between suppliers and between demanders) and exchange (between a supplier and a demander).
Secondly, the course will draw on these concepts and a well-established methodology to account for the empirical variety of forms of firms and markets; their constructed nature (there are several ways to create or transform them); their material dimension (markets and businesses are complex arrangements in which technical devices play an essential role); and the political issues that drive them.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- To develop a sociological analysis by articulating some theoretical references and some empirical examples related to concrete work situations in firms and market exchanges.
- To articulate some sociological knowledge on markets and firms with some fundamental work of classic sociology (such as Weber, Simmel, Durkheim).
- To emphasize the collaboration in a group in order to reach certain goals.
- To discover certain English and French scientific journal.
- To read some English and French scientific articles.
- To collectively discuss certain scientific articles.
- To carry out two semi-directive interviews with players active on a specific market
- To observe the operation of a specific market.
- To write a working paper.
- To give an oral presentation of a reading summary.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The basic knowledge in classic sociology should be already acquired.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The first sessions will aim to define the concepts of firm and market. Then, gradually, students will discover various concepts relating to the analysis of concrete markets by basing themselves on scientific literature, on various case studies and on carrying out two semi-directive interviews.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The course will take place face-to-face as long as the health context allows it.
In case of restrictive measures, the course will be organised in a hybrid way.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
The lecture is based on FRANÇOIS P., 2008, Sociologie des marchés, Paris, Armand Colin (available at the library).
The reading of these articles (available online via Cairn or JStor) is recommended :
- Garcia, M. F. (1986). La construction sociale d'un marché parfait. Actes de la recherche en sciences sociales, 65(1), 2-13.
- Dubois, C., Delgoffe, B., 2025, Une économie de la captation sous tension : le cas de l'édition juridique en Belgique. Droit et société, 120(2), 319-342
- Eymard-Duvernay, F., & Marchal, E. (2000). Qui calcule trop finit par déraisonner: les experts du marché du travail. Sociologie du travail, 42(3), 411-432.
- Dubuisson-Quellier, S. (1999). Le prestataire, le client et le consommateur: Sociologie d'une relation marchande, Revue française de sociologie, 40(4), 671-688.
- Azoulay, N. (2008). Lucien Karpik, L'économie des singularités, Nrf-Gallimard, 2007. Revue de la régulation. Capitalisme, institutions, pouvoirs, (3/4).
- Rivet, N. (2023). À la recherche de la concurrence: L'État au défi de la privatisation de ses prisons. Revue française de socio-Economie, 31(2), 25-48.
- Wuidar, S., & Bakebek, L. (2022). Intermédiation du travail en arène politique locale: le recrutement de la main-d'œuvre locale sur le projet du barrage de Nachtigal au Cameroun. In Annales des Mines-Gérer & comprendre (Vol. 150, No. 4, pp. 7-17).
- Postel, N., & Sobel, R. (2020). La RSE: nouvelle forme de dé-marchandisation du monde?. Une lecture institutionnaliste à partir de Karl Polanyi. Développement durable et territoires. Économie, géographie, politique, droit, sociologie, 11(2).
Exam(s) in session
January exam session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
August-September exam session
- In-person
oral exam
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
First lesson: 25/09.
Contacts
C.Dubois@uliege.be