Starting from an original typology that distinguishes prices as self-regulating, administered, composite, and negotiated, this work analyzes the mechanisms behind the formation of price in a broad range of empirical situations. From this perspective, prices do not result solely from the free play of supply and demand, but are also determined on the basis of political, moral, and social criteria. This book shows that prices can be an index of markets and, more generally, of historical changes in the economy.
Fabien Éloire is a sociologist and lecturer at the University of Lille. His research focuses on the sociology of economics, markets, and the role of networks in economic activities. He is the director of the Revue française de socio-économie (French Review of Socioeconomics).
Jean Finez is a sociologist and lecturer at the University of Grenoble-Alpes. His research brings a sociology of economics perspective to the functioning of markets, state-owned companies, and digital platforms.