Political Economy vs. Economic Sociology

[nerdspeak]

Can anyone offer an explanation of the difference between these two fields? I know I want to study an institutionalist approach to economics, similar to that of Ha-Joon Chang, and I know I can't do this through most American economics department.

[Darth.Vegan]

I tend to think of political economy as the politics of production and economic sociology is often focused on issues of stratification. I am not an economic sociologist though, so please feel free to correct me.

[calamaria]

I think Chang's area is more like political economy, as xdarthveganx pointed out, in sociology. Nowadays many economic sociologists tends to empirically analyze networks, sociology of organizations, or something, it depends on schools though. And political sociology varies. it's really wide area. My suggestion is to pick up some grad programs specializing political economy itself, rather than political sociology or economic sociology.

I guess your institutionalist approach refers to historical one, rather than sociological-constitutive or rational choice one. Some political scientists and public administration researchers study this area as well.

Hope it helps you.