This considers the central questions of the co-ordination of social, economic and political life. Traditionally, the organization of social life has been studied in comparative isolation, from specific disciplinary bases. "Markets, Hierarchies and Networks" draws on a cross-disciplinary range of material to offer an introduction to understanding how societies, politics and economies work. It examines three quite different models of social co-ordination: markets, hierarchies and networks. Drawing on a wide range of sources, it illustrates the characteristics of each of these models - how they work, what are their strengths, and what are their likely limitations. The three are placed in a comparative framework which offers a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of co-ordination at work in different social contexts. Bringing together for the first time a series of key texts in the understanding of social co-ordination, this book should be of interest to students of interdisciplinary social science, and students of sociology, economics, geography, politics and related social sciences.
