Archived news

15 October 2015: Essex sociologist has new book published

Professor Mark Harvey from the Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation has had his new book published by Routledge.

Drinking Water: A Socio-Economics Analysis of Historical and Societal Variation analyses the way water for drinking is produced, distributed, owned, acquired, and consumed in contrasting ways in different societies.

From sparkling mineral water in Germany, to drinking water garages in Taiwan, from water tankers in Mexico City to street vendors in Delhi markets, comparisons are made to stretch our understanding of what we mean by ‘an economy’, quality, and property rights, of water.

In addition, the study of socio-economics of drinking water provides a route into understanding interactions between polity, economy and nature.

In particular, the book analyses the sociogenic character of sustainability crises, whether they be droughts or floods, pollution or land subsidence, epidemics or climate change. In so doing, it develops a social scientific understanding for the greatest challenges facing the world today.

Find out more about the book on the Routledge Sustainability blog.