Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Notes on contributors
- Preface
- 1 Why interpersonal relations matter for economics
- 2 From transactions to encounters: the joint generation of relational goods and conventional values
- 3 Fellow-feeling
- 4 Interpersonal interaction and economic theory: the case of public goods
- 5 Under trusting eyes: the responsive nature of trust
- 6 Interpersonal relations and job satisfaction: some empirical results in social and community care services
- 7 On the possible conflict between economic growth and social development
- 8 The logic of good social relations
- 9 The mutual validation of ends
- 10 Hic sunt leones: interpersonal relations as unexplored territory in the tradition of economics
- 11 Authority and power in economic and sociological approaches to interpersonal relations: from interactions to embeddedness
- 12 Interpersonal relations and economics: comments from a feminist perspective
- 13 Economics and interpersonal relations: ruling the social back in
- Envoi
- References
- Index
11 - Authority and power in economic and sociological approaches to interpersonal relations: from interactions to embeddedness
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Notes on contributors
- Preface
- 1 Why interpersonal relations matter for economics
- 2 From transactions to encounters: the joint generation of relational goods and conventional values
- 3 Fellow-feeling
- 4 Interpersonal interaction and economic theory: the case of public goods
- 5 Under trusting eyes: the responsive nature of trust
- 6 Interpersonal relations and job satisfaction: some empirical results in social and community care services
- 7 On the possible conflict between economic growth and social development
- 8 The logic of good social relations
- 9 The mutual validation of ends
- 10 Hic sunt leones: interpersonal relations as unexplored territory in the tradition of economics
- 11 Authority and power in economic and sociological approaches to interpersonal relations: from interactions to embeddedness
- 12 Interpersonal relations and economics: comments from a feminist perspective
- 13 Economics and interpersonal relations: ruling the social back in
- Envoi
- References
- Index
Summary
Introduction
We would like to explore some consequences of a very simple idea. If one analyses interpersonal relations in the economic domain, sooner or later one encounters power, authority, hierarchy and domination – i.e. what may be called the ‘vertical’ dimension of human relationships, as opposed to the ‘horizontal’ one. Violence, conflicts and relations of strength certainly exist in interpersonal relations, but too often economists tend to forget or bypass this aspect.
In fact, if we admit the existence of ‘vertical relations’, it is difficult to view interpersonal relations as always ‘positive’ for individuals – at least, for both parties in a ‘face-to-face’ relation – as too often happens in the economic analysis of this subject. This optimistic vision of interpersonal relations clearly appears, for example, in Gui's introduction to the recent special issue of Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics devoted to the topic, although he does admit that ‘the expression “relational”… does not necessarily mean nice, pleasant, or positive. Indeed, there also exists a “dark side” of relations… and “negative interpersonal exchanges” (Gui, 2000b, p. 143). If we are convinced of the relevance of vertical relations, beside or above horizontal ones, and of the importance of power, conflicts and relations of strength in vertical relations, it becomes difficult to neglect this ‘dark side’.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Economics and Social InteractionAccounting for Interpersonal Relations, pp. 229 - 249Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005
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