Comparative Socio-Economic Systems
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the conceptual and theoretical tools to understand the functioning of socio-economic systems, with a focus on explaining outcomes of economic growth, employment, education, inequality and inclusion.
Drawing on the methodological tools of economic sociology, the course also analyses and compares the institutional arrangements that influence these outcomes to highlight the differences from country to country.
Finally, teaching focuses much of its attention on action and, more specifically, collective action. This aims to demonstrate how specific outcomes are the product of the strategies and actions developed in each institutional and relational context.
Drawing on the methodological tools of economic sociology, the course also analyses and compares the institutional arrangements that influence these outcomes to highlight the differences from country to country.
Finally, teaching focuses much of its attention on action and, more specifically, collective action. This aims to demonstrate how specific outcomes are the product of the strategies and actions developed in each institutional and relational context.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be familiar with the core conceptual tools for comparatively analysing socio-economic systems and will know the fundamental differences that mark the institutional arrangements of various European and non-European countries from a socio-economic standpoint.
Students will also be able to independently collect and analyse certain key indicators to adeptly discuss the structural characteristics and outcomes of socio-economic systems in different domains (economic growth, innovation, social inclusion).
Students will also be able to independently collect and analyse certain key indicators to adeptly discuss the structural characteristics and outcomes of socio-economic systems in different domains (economic growth, innovation, social inclusion).
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
First part. Economic sociology: an introduction
Lectures No. 1 and No. 2: Introduction and Modernization and Development of Backward Areas
Lectures No. 3 and No. 4: The Keynesian Welfare State and the Comparative Political Economy
Lectures No. 5 and No. 6: The Crisis of Fordism and Flexible Production Models
Lectures No. 7 and No. 8: The New Economic Sociology
Lectures No. 9 and No. 10: Globalization and the Diversity of Capitalisms.
Second part. A look at development and its institutions since the Second World War
Lesson No. 11: A Divided World. The Cold War
Lecture No. 12: Decolonization: Lights and (Many) Shadows
Lecture No. 13: Third World, "Third Worlds"
Lecture No. 14: From Keynesianism to Neoliberalism: Winners and Losers in the Era of the Washington Consensus
Lecture No. 15: A New Globalization
Lesson No. 16: Head to Head
Lectures no. 17 and no. 18: Globalization and inequality: a long-term perspective
Lectures no. 19 and no. 20: "Polycrisis" (Act Two). Economy, (geo)politics and society at the beginning of the third millennium
Third part. Comparing models of capitalism
Lectures no. 21 and no. 22: Growth, inclusion and new challenges: Northern European capitalism.
Lectures no. 23 and no. 24: Economic competitiveness and new forms of dualism: continental capitalism.
Lectures No. 25 and No. 26: Adaptability, Individualization and Inequality: Anglo-Saxon Capitalism.
Lectures Nos. 27 and 28: Insecurity without Competitiveness: Mediterranean Capitalism
Recapping. Main contents and messages of the course
Lectures no. 29 and no. 30.
Lectures No. 1 and No. 2: Introduction and Modernization and Development of Backward Areas
Lectures No. 3 and No. 4: The Keynesian Welfare State and the Comparative Political Economy
Lectures No. 5 and No. 6: The Crisis of Fordism and Flexible Production Models
Lectures No. 7 and No. 8: The New Economic Sociology
Lectures No. 9 and No. 10: Globalization and the Diversity of Capitalisms.
Second part. A look at development and its institutions since the Second World War
Lesson No. 11: A Divided World. The Cold War
Lecture No. 12: Decolonization: Lights and (Many) Shadows
Lecture No. 13: Third World, "Third Worlds"
Lecture No. 14: From Keynesianism to Neoliberalism: Winners and Losers in the Era of the Washington Consensus
Lecture No. 15: A New Globalization
Lesson No. 16: Head to Head
Lectures no. 17 and no. 18: Globalization and inequality: a long-term perspective
Lectures no. 19 and no. 20: "Polycrisis" (Act Two). Economy, (geo)politics and society at the beginning of the third millennium
Third part. Comparing models of capitalism
Lectures no. 21 and no. 22: Growth, inclusion and new challenges: Northern European capitalism.
Lectures no. 23 and no. 24: Economic competitiveness and new forms of dualism: continental capitalism.
Lectures No. 25 and No. 26: Adaptability, Individualization and Inequality: Anglo-Saxon Capitalism.
Lectures Nos. 27 and 28: Insecurity without Competitiveness: Mediterranean Capitalism
Recapping. Main contents and messages of the course
Lectures no. 29 and no. 30.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Lectures accompanied by group work. Attending students will be invited to read in advance the texts that will be discussed in class so that they can participate more actively in the lessons.
Teaching Resources
Trigilia, C. (2009), Sociologia economica. II. Temi e percorsi contemporanei, Il Mulino, Bologna. Chapters from n. 2 to n. 6.
Alfani, G. e Colli, A. (2024), Tra le onde della globalizzazione. Una storia economica del mondo, Giapppichelli, Torino. Only chapters from n. 13 to n. 20.
Burroni, L. (2025), Capitalismi a confronto. Istituzioni e regolazione dell'economia nei paesi europei, Il Mulino, Bologna. Whole volume.
Alfani, G. e Colli, A. (2024), Tra le onde della globalizzazione. Una storia economica del mondo, Giapppichelli, Torino. Only chapters from n. 13 to n. 20.
Burroni, L. (2025), Capitalismi a confronto. Istituzioni e regolazione dell'economia nei paesi europei, Il Mulino, Bologna. Whole volume.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam at the end of the course and attending students will be offered the possibility of intermediate tests and the presentation of papers that will contribute to the final evaluation of the student.
SPS/09 - ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Pavolini Emmanuele
Professor(s)