08-350-M1a-1 | Introduction to the field of employment and minimum wage policy in comparative perspective (in englischer Sprache)
Seminar
Termine: wöchentlich Mo 16:00 - 18:00 FVG W0090
In this seminar we will give an overview to different approaches and methods used in the field of employment and minimum wage policy research. That means that we will explore in more sociological perspective the consequences of unemployment for individuals, and give insights into labour market segmentation. Using a comparative policy analysis approach we will highlight different concepts of labour market and welfare state policies as well as minimum wage policies in Germany and the European Union.. Moreover, using a political economy perspective, we discuss present challenges of employment development, as well as structural and institutional explanatory approaches.
Literatur zur Vorbereitung/Preparatory Reading:
Heidenreich M (2022) Social Cohesion in Europe. Between Europe-Wide Convergence and Social and Territorial Inequalities. Territorial and Social Inequalities in Europe. Springer, pp.313-339.
Prüfungsleistungen und CP/Assignments and Credits:
3 CP (small) Research Proposal (4-5 Pages) 6 CP (medium) presentation and Research Proposal (about 6-8 pages)
| Prof. Dr. Irene Dingeldey
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08-350-M1a-2 | Unemployment insurance and minimum income support (in englischer Sprache)
Seminar
Termine: zweiwöchentlich (Startwoche: 1) Fr 12:00 - 16:00 UNICOM 3.3380 (SOCIUM - Mary-Somerville-Str. 3)
This seminar covers a broad range topics related to the role of social protection in case of job loss and unemployment, taking a comparative perspective on European welfare states. It discusses the main design issues regarding unemployment insurance and short-time work, means-tested minimum income benefits as well as activation policies. The main aim of the seminar is to develop a better understanding how different policies influence structures and dynamics on European labour markets, in particular as regards benefit generosity, coverage, and entitlement criteria. One main focus lies on issues related to non-standard forms of employment, self-employment and platform work as well as long-term unemployment and the potential role of demanding and enabling policies to overcome exclusion risks. It will also discussion fundamental alternatives such as universal basic income.
This course is open to different fields of studies. Successful completion (3-6 CP) depends on active participation, introduction into one topic and an oral exam.
| Prof. Dr. Werner Eichhorst
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08-350-M1a-3 | Risks and Politics (in englischer Sprache)
Seminar
Termine: wöchentlich Mi 08:00 - 10:00 UNICOM 3.3390 (SOCIUM - Mary-Somerville-Str. 3)
The course addresses questions that are at the core of Political Economy and Comparative Politics: How do individuals respond to risk and insecurity? How does uncertainty affect political behavior, preferences and attitudes? In times of shifting social boundaries, technological change, globalization, migration, and climate change, how do such transformations influence how people vote, engage in politics or view the state as such? How does risk, understood in its multiple forms – that is, risk following from economic volatility, fear toward social and cultural change, risk to fall victim to crime or repression – influence the likelihood to engage in political activism, voice demands for state action and shape citizens’ view toward the state?
In the course of the seminar we address different types of risk, covering major theoretical perspectives and scholarly work in IPE, CPE and Comparative Politics: starting with economic insecurity following from income volatility (change in inequality, risk of job loss), technological innovation (automation and digitalization), globalization (off shoring, exposure to the international market) and migration (inflow of refugees, labor market migration), we take into account risks that arise through state failure (e. g. criminal violence and protection rackets) and climate change (responses to natural catastrophes). Moreover, we take into account how risk calculations influence the likelihood to engage in collective action capacity, such as revolt and protest in developing countries and thereby affect the odds of democratization. While focusing on risk, the course teaches classical theories of individual decision-making, preference formation and collective action. Focusing on the microfoundation of risks and politics, we mainly study individual behavior and preferences, tapping into the political psychology literature and behavioral economics. We will encounter formal models, experimental work (lab experiments, survey experiments, lab-in-the-field), but also quantitative work based on observational data and qualitative case studies. Examples will be drawn from the research frontier on distributive politics and political economy questions on both advanced industrial democracies and developing countries. We discuss challenges of causal identification and research logic.
Literatur zur Vorbereitung/Preparatory Reading:
Mares, I. (2003). The politics of social risk: Business and welfare state development. Cambridge University Press.
Rehm, Philipp (2016) Risk inequality and welfare states: social policy preferences, development, and dynamics. Cambridge University Press.
Prüfungsleistungen und CP/Assignments and Credits: Term paper/Hausarbeit 6CP; Referat und schriftliche Ausarbeitung des Referats bei 3CP/ In-class presentation and written report of presentation topic for 3 CP
| Prof. Dr. Sarah Berens
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