Economic Sociology

Research in the Economic Sociology Research Group focuses on four areas: changes in work and employment, the digitalization of society, financialization and transitions to a sustainable economy. In all four fields, activities are based on the guiding principle of application-oriented research. The research interest of the individual projects aims to combine theoretically reflected basic sociological knowledge and practice-relevant design knowledge. The focus on the paradigm of application-oriented basic research is also reflected in the range of projects funded: The economic sociology team not only carries out publicly funded research projects. The team also has extensive experience in the scientific monitoring of change processes in companies.

The transformation of work and employment

Flexibilization, subjectivization, dissolution of boundaries and precarization are among the central terms used by sociological research to describe changes in the world of work. For some years now, our research has focused on the reorganization of global market-oriented companies - with a specific focus on the various forms of flexibilization as well as their preconditions and consequences. In addition to the fragmentation of work, the transformation of work organizations, and the transformation of corporate organizations, the economic sociology team also examines the subjective dimension of the transformation of work using the example of work orientations, political thought patterns and the future expectations of workers.

The digitalization of the world of work and society

The digitalization of industrial and service work is one of the central topics of current debates in the sociology of work, organization and economics. Building on our many years of research into the implementation of lean production in industry and the transformation of work organizations, we are interested in the effects of digitalization on the quality of work and the organizational structures of companies as well as the prerequisites for successful digitalization. One focus of research into the digitalization of the world of work is the contours of the "factory of the future". Quantitative surveys, qualitative company case studies and group discussions are used to shed light on the ideas and visions of the factory of the future that exist in the present as vanishing points for current rationalization activities and labour policy strategies.

The financialization of the economy

The financialization of the economy is one of the phenomena of contemporary societies that is the subject of intensive research in the social sciences. Previous research in Osnabrück economic sociology has primarily focused on the influence of financial actors and their expectations, but also on the influence of financial economic thinking on economic organizations. How are corporate management, work organization and the cultural foundations of business organizations changing as a result of the multi-level phenomenon of "financialization"? In the future, the everyday cultural consequences of financialization will play a more prominent role on our research agenda.

The transformation to a sustainable economy.

The topic of sustainability has been a hot topic in social science research for several years now. We are particularly interested in developing a sociological perspective on sustainability transitions from the perspective of work, organization and economic sociology. There is now a lively international debate on the particular importance of the development of economically, institutionally and culturally stabilized sustainability niches within conventional economic sectors and, above all, their political and civil society governance. Our research deals empirically with the dynamics of the working world in these niches. It not only examines - in the sense of an impact assessment - the effects on workers, but also focuses on the productive role of workers in the transition processes.

Teaching in the Economic Sociology Research Group is based on the principle of student-oriented and research-oriented teaching. The courses offered by the department are integrated into several degree programs at the Institute of Social Sciences.

In the BA Social Sciences, Introduction to Economic Sociology and Introduction to Organizational and Work Sociology are offered every two semesters. In addition, the department's team is also responsible for the economic sociology specialisations: seminars are regularly offered on economic sociological classics, the transformation of labour relations, the transformation of capitalism, the financialization of the economy, sustainable management and the digitalization of society.

At Master's level, two compulsory sociological courses are offered on a regular basis, which are also open to the Institute's other Master's programs via the free elective area: SE Economy in Transition and SE Work in Transition. In addition, research seminars are regularly offered on the central topics of the subject area: sustainable economy, digitalization and the future of work.

Prof. Holst and the members of the Research Group are also available as supervisors for final theses. If you are interested in becoming a supervisee, please contact us with a topic proposal.