Valia S. Aranitou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, where she teaches Economic Sociology. In addition, she is the Scientific Director of the Research Institute of Greek Commerce and SMEs, the Institute of The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship. She studied Economics and Political Science in Athens and Paris. She has authored numerous Books, Articles in Greek, English and French journals and edited volumes.