Comparative Socio-Economic Systems

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.

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).