ABSTRACTS


Kreutz, Henrik
A Pragmatic Theory of Action - Collective Action as the Theory of the Result of Individual Harmful Addiction

Starting with the typology of action as conceived by Max Weber the explication of the terms introduced by him shows that these concepts are by far too crude and that he omitted several important types of action. On the one side affective behaviour and emotional action have to be differentiated since the latter is by no means irrational. Fritz Heider for example spoke of a "logic of emotions" decades ago. On the other side rationality in the sense of "Zweckrationalität" has to be conceived as a form of addictive behaviour. It is true, as Gary S. Becker has shown, that we can speak of "rational addiction", but it is clear that if a person becomes totally dependent on a drug or an ideological goal, his behaviour becomes self-destruvtive and this can hardly be named "rational". A third serious problem of Weber´s typology of action is, that he never made quite clear what a "value rational" (wertrational) action means.

On the basis of the so called "pattern variables", defined by Talcott Parsons, and his theory of socialization an attempt is made in this article to deliver an explication of the term of "Wertrationalität" (value-rationality). On the basis of the 5 pattern variables, each being conceived as consisting of five dichotomies, 32 possible action orientations are derived and some of these can be identified as different types of rationality.

If we conceive "Wertrationalität" and "Zweckrationalität" on this basis we find, that "value rationality" always implies a more complicated calculation than "Zweckrationalität". Furthermore, it implies often enough, that not all the means should be used, even if a person could dispose of them. Seen on the short run, "value-rational" orientation therefore implies a handicap if a person has to compete with a "zweckrational" actor. Therefore one should expect an evolutionary process by which "value-rational" actors are omitted from the social system as "loosers". A detailed analysis shows, however, that persons with a universalistic value orientation have a superior chance to form common value systems with those, who are also universalistically oriented, if they act in a value-rational way and that they therefore have superior chances in the competition with "zweckrational" actors on the long run. A second very serious disadvantage of "zweckrational" actors was detected already by Max Weber himself: "Zweckrationalität" itself becomes in its purest form an addiction. Success is sought in this case only because it is successful. If success is the ultimate goal of "zweckrational" orientation for its own sake (as a thrill), action becomes totally irrational. This will be the consequence, because no material goals exist anymore and the ultimate goal of action gets a formal character. Therefore the final result of "zweckrational" action is a basically nihilistic orientation.


Janky, Béla-Kopasz, Marianna
An Explanation of Citizen's Preferences of Health Insurance

The study examines the determinants of the individuals' preferences on the welfare state. The focus is on the institutions of public health system, especially on the system of the health insurance. In the survey, carried out in April 1999, a referendum question format was adopted, thus the subjects had to choose between different institutional options, instead of valuing them separately. A simple model, built upon the notions of the rational choice theory, was tested with the help of regression techniques. The results indicate that the values on equality and the attitudes toward risk taking have significant effects on the respondents' choices among the different alternatives. However, the hypotheses about the role of monetary self interest are not supported by the data. For a more sophisticated analysis, the explicit modeling of the utility function would be demanded.


Reményi, Andrea Ágnes
Language Use and Hierarchy:
A Dyadic Study of the System of Address in Workpace Groups

The system of address (e.g. Katie!; Good morning, Dr Smith!) is a relational phenomenon: unlike most other sociolinguistic variables, address forms do not, in the first place, signal speakers' identity, but rather the negotiated "sameness" or "difference" of the interlocutors' identity. As the dyad's choice between them is influenced by the group-specific order of value attached to human attributes, the binary basis of the system of address appearing in Hungarian on verbs (being on tu-terms vs. vos) makes it possible to quantify the value order of these characteristics, as measured by sociological and other variables. This paper classifies norms of address thus emerging, mainly as a function of the communicative orientation in the three studied groups to power and hierarchical structuring.


Dávid, Beáta-Tom Snijders
An Estimate of the Size of the Homeless Population in Budapest

In this paper we try to estimate the size of the homeless population in Budapest by using two - non-standard - sampling methods: snowball sampling and the capture-recapture method. Using two methods and three different data sets we are able to compare the methods, the results and also suggest some further applications. Apart from the practical purpose of our study there is a methodological one as well: to use two relatively unknown methods for the estimation of this very peculiar kind of population.


Nagy, Réka
Regional Development, Foreign Direct Capital Investment and Black Market in the Gyõr Region

Studies dealing with the possibilities and limits of regional development of transforming the East-European countries have gained importance in recent years.

This paper mainly discusses the indirect and direct impacts of foreign capital investment on the socio - economic development in the Gyõr region. The author seeks answers - based on social theory, historical perspective and empirical research - to the successful development of the chosen region. A substantial part of the paper consists of the complex action of local governance for attracting investments, and to regulate the local market accordingly. The effectiveness of the local regulation related the formerly important illegal marketplace ("Polish market") is a good example of this action.