Economics as symbolic capital: The consecration of elite business schools

Abstract Ever since the first elite business schools were founded in Europe and United States during late 1800s early 1900s, they have enjoyed an intimate relationship with economics. Despite some notable analyses of economics’ importance for successful institutionalization schools, understanding relation between economics requires further development. As such, this paper focuses on ‘economics as symbolic capital’ consecration settings, particular emphasis aspects cultural social capital. Consecration can be seen critical to schools; contrast primary focus previous studies material significance my chief concern is discipline’s power schools’ status institutions many countries today. Data from a study Sweden’s school, The Stockholm School Economics (SSE), based both historical contemporary sources, including archival material, biographies, statistics, participant observations, interviews faculty students. SSE one world’s oldest where has played role ever its establishment; SSE’s unique ultimate source capital global economics, namely, Nobel Prize Economics, which exerts significant influence general standing