Learning objectives:
The course covers the main issues and problems of economic development with regard to methods and sociological theories. The analysis is concerned with the study of economic and productive systems, their diversity and development paths.
The aim of this program is to show how sociological theories and concepts can be used to examine the problems of development and underdevelopment in general, and the problems of industrialization. In particular, the knowledge and skills that will be provided by the course relate to the socio-economic aspects of society and its transformations, methodological issues, and areas of empirical research.
The student should be able to:
- describe the main theories and concepts in sociology and in sociology of economic development;
- explain the connections between theories, concepts and different cases of economic development.

Course content:
1. The origins of sociology.
2. The development of social research: paradigms, methods and application.
3. Sociological theories and social research.
4. The study of economic development: economics and sociology.
5. Theories of modernization and development of underdeveloped areas.
6. The Keynesian welfare state and its developments.
7. Fordism: characteristics, crisis and new production models.
8. New economic sociology, globalization and diversity of capitalisms.

Reference books:
- Corsi V. (2009), La sociologia tra conoscenza e ricerca, FrancoAngeli, Milano.
- Trigilia C. (2009), Sociologia economica. Vol. II. Temi e percorsi contemporanei, Il Mulino, Bologna.

Teaching Methods:
Lectures. Use of slides.

Mode of assessment:
Oral exam.