The Sociology of Petit Capitalism: A Trend Report

Abstract
Despite the demonstrable importance of small scale capitalism in contemporary industrial societies, sociologists still generally ignore its economic, social and ideological significance. However, it is now possible to bring together the main elements of a sociology of petit capitalism. Four areas are examined: the class analysis of the owners of small capital; the sociology of entrepreneurship; social relations in the enterprise; and the links between small capital and the wider society.