Routledge The Political Economy Reader: Contending Perspectives and Contemporary Debates

The Political Economy Reader advocates a particular approach to the study of political economy – the "market-institutional" perspective – which emphasizes the ways in which markets are embedded in political and social institutions. This perspective offers a compelling alternative to the market-liberal view, which advocates freer markets and less government intervention in the economy, as if states and markets were naturally at odds with each other. The reader embraces a truly interdisciplinary approach to the study of political economy, with extensive coverage from sociology, economics, history and political science. It includes some of the most important classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives on political economy. And it engages some of the most topical debates in political economy today, such as climate change, the global financial crisis, inequality, the digital platform economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. For political economy courses at a variety of levels and from a range of disciplines, the reader is also of interest to scholars and citizens wanting perspective on the intersection of economics, politics, and society. New to the Second Edition • More than 20 new readings included by such notables as Elinor Ostrom, E. J. Hobsbawm, Dani Rodrik, Amartya Sen, Thomas Piketty, and Mariana Mazzucato among many others. • Fully updated introductions to the book and each thematic chapter of readings. • Coverage of key emerging debates including climate change, the financial crisis, inequality, the digital platform economy, and COVID-19 Review  Praise for The Political Economy Reader, Second Edition "Political economy readers tend to come in two flavors: excerpts of the classics or surveys of the present. The difficulty lies in combining the two, showing the reader how the reach of political economy has expanded over time. Barma and Vogel have managed just that and, in doing so, have set the benchmark for what students of political economy need to know." --Mark Blyth, Brown University "From climate change to COVID-19, understanding the challenges policymakers confront in governing markets has never been more important. This valuable collection presents a wide variety of thoughtfully-curated approaches to political economy, providing scholars and students alike with essential insights into persistent puzzles regarding how political institutions shape markets in ways that promote―or fail to promote―societies that thrive." --Greta R. Krippner, University of Michigan "Barma and Vogel have produced an outstanding collection of core texts on political economy, including both classic texts and some of the most important recent contributions. This reader strikes a perfect balance between theory and applied topics and highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The volume familiarizes the reader with the most influential theoretical approaches to political economy. It also includes important empirical studies that illustrate the relevance of the field to understanding a wide range of contemporary and historical developments. Thanks to the editors’ carefully crafted introductions it is accessible to students encountering this material for the first time, but the volume is equally useful as a sophisticated guide to the field for advanced graduate students and anyone else who wants to learn more about political economy. This book is an indispensable and up-to-date guide to political economy, and it will be essential reading for students taking a wide range of classes in political science, sociology, economics, history, and management." -- Magnus Feldmann, University of Bristol "Vogel and Barma do a masterful job of selecting key yet divergent theoretical perspectives on political economy. The Reader then turns to substantive contemporary debates, where these competing theories can be applied and evaluated against real-world examples. This text is an excellent choice for a graduate or advanc