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The Architecture of Illegal Markets

Towards an Economic Sociology of Illegality in the Economy

Jens Beckert editor Matias Dewey editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:3rd Aug '17

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Architecture of Illegal Markets cover

From illegal drugs, stolen artwork, and forged trademarks, to fraud in financial markets - the phenomenon of illegality in market exchanges is pervasive. Illegal markets have great economic significance, have relevant social and political consequences, and shape economic and political structures. Despite the importance of illegality in the economy, the field of economic sociology unquestioningly accepts the premise that the institutional structures and exchanges taking place in markets are law-abiding in nature. This volume makes a contribution to changing this. Questions that stand at the centre of the chapters are: What are the interfaces between legal and illegal markets? How do demand and supply in illegal markets interact? What role do criminal organizations play in illegal markets? What is the relationship between illegality and governments? Is illegality a phenomenon central to capitalism? Anchored in economic sociology, this book contributes to the analysis and understanding of market exchanges in conditions of illegality from a perspective that focuses on the social organization of markets. Offering both, theoretical reflections and case studies, the chapters assembled in the volume address the consequences of the illegal production, distribution, and consumption of products for the architecture of markets. It also focuses on the underlying causes and the political and social concerns stemming from the infringement of the law.

This creative and inspiring book provides, as the editor's note, "the start" of a much-needed conversation on illegal markets (p. 27). Also, in an era when the U.S. Supreme Court has rendered legal some transactions that were previously deemed illegal (e.g., political spending by corporations) and might be on the verge of increasingly doing so, it has never been more urgent to better unpack and comprehend (il)legality. * Michel Anteby, Administrative Science Quarterly *

ISBN: 9780198794974

Dimensions: 240mm x 173mm x 25mm

Weight: 654g

330 pages