Social and Cultural Dimensions of Market Expansion

Abstract

The expansion of markets and the integration of markets into a world economy has added new dimensions to the social and cultural organisation of markets. We have identified three dimensions of market expansion: the growth of market oriented production and trade, internal and external market integration and the creation of virtual markets. These three processes can occur side by side and are connected with social and cultural change. Classical social scientists, dealing with this problem, have concentrated on the social and religious aspects. More recently researchers has rediscovered the topic and emphasised institutional and social transition in the wake of market expansion or they have focused on the cultural consequences of post-modern mass production and consumption. Following up recent sociological and anthropological studies we propose a paradigm to classify fields of research on the social and cultural preconditions and consequences of market expansion.

Keywords: markets, trade, social theory, culture

JEL Classification: F02, F04, O1, O20, Z1