Koncepcja zakorzenienia społecznego i jej przydatność w badaniach ekonomicznych
The Concept of Social Embeddedness and Its Usefulness in Economic Research

Summary/Abstract: As the result of strong criticism of economics as a science (particularly of the ‘mainstream economics’, deeply set in the neoclassical tradition), which appeared in the last years in the context of the global financial crisis, there have been attempts to improve or modify economic theory. One important element of this change was the inclusion of many concepts taken from sociology, psychology, or even natural sciences into economic reasoning. It has been commonly agreed that the increased complexity of modern economy and the recurring crises imply the need of interdisciplinary research. Among the new concepts and approaches introduced into economics, one of the most important and useful is the concept of social embeddedness of economy, derived from the works of Mark Granvetter and, more broadly, from the so-called new economic sociology. This concept – widely discussed in this paper – opens up a broad field for the research on various aspects of socioeconomic activity. It can be applied in many areas of economic research. It also enables us to use new methods and tools in economic research, including qualitative analyses. A wider use of this concept could help to eliminate some shortcomings of economic analysis typical of mainstream economics. Taking account of interpersonal relations and social context of economic decisions and economic activity can significantly enrich economic analysis both on micro and macro levels.

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