The Political Economy Reader combines in a single volume core writings on political economy from four social science disciplines: economics, political science, sociology, and history. Arguing that markets should be viewed as institutions that are deeply embedded in politics and society, editors Barma and Vogel combine a theoretical approach to understanding capitalism with analyses of real-world market systems around the world today.

The Reader first lays the conceptual groundwork, covering transaction costs, property rights, corporate governance systems, power relationships, social networks and cultural norms, and then turns to real-world practices and reforms. Contemporary debates focus on deregulation in advanced industrial countries, privatization in transitional economies, and liberalization in developing countries. The volume concludes with selections on the information technology revolution and globalization.

Part 1: Contending Perspectives A. The Classics 1. The Wealth of NationsAdam Smith 2. The Communist Manifesto Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels 3. The National System of Political EconomyFriedrich List. B. The Liberal Paradigm 4. The Road to SerfdomFriedrich Hayek 5. Capitalism and FreedomMilton Friedman. C. Economic Sociology 6. The Great Transformation Karl Polanyi 7. The Architecture of Markets Neil Fligstein. D. The New Institutional Economics 8. Structure and Change in Economic History Douglass North9. The Economic Institutions of CapitalismOliver Williamson. E. Historical Perspectives 10.The Stages of Economic GrowthW.W. Rostow 11. Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective Alexander Gerschenkron 12. The Wealth and Poverty of Nations David Landes.F. Political Science and Political Economy 13. The Market System Charles Lindblom14. MITI and the Japanese Miracle Chalmers Johnson 15. Varieties of Capitalism Peter Hall and David Soskice Part 2: Contemporary Debates A. Market Reform in Advanced Industrial Countries 16. The Virtues of Capitalism Arthur Seldon 17. Why Freer Markets Need More Rules Steven Vogel.B. Market Transition in Eastern Europe and China 18. The End of Poverty Jeffrey Sachs 19. Globalization and its DiscontentsJoseph Stiglitz 20. China and GlobalizationDoug Guthrie. C. Market Development in Developing Countries 21. The Poverty of Development EconomicsDeepak Lal 22. The Myths of the Market and the Common History of Late Developers Kiren Chaudhry 23. The Mystery of CapitalHernando De Soto. D. Globalization and the Information Technology Revolution 24. The Lexus and the Olive Tree Thomas Friedman 25. How Revolutionary Was the Digital Revolution?Abraham Newman and John Zysman 26. The Retreat of the StateSusan Strange 27. Global Political Economy Robert Gilpin