Research group Social policy (SOCPOL)
The focus is on the impact of political and economic factors for the institutional design of social policy, and the connections between the design of social policy, socio-economic conditions and individuals' life chances.
Thematically, all major transfer programs are analyzed, such as pensions, parental benefits, sickness benefits, unemployment benefits and social benefits. In addition, various forms of publicly funded services such as health care, education, housing and labour market policy reforms are studied. Finally, some social policy programs that can not be classified as either transfers or services are also treated, e.g. supply control and taxation in alcohol policy.
The analyzes of the social policy programs cover large parts of the world, with an emphasis on the industrialized western countries and Sweden. In addition to this, social policy is also studied in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, South America and Africa. The analyzes range from about 1950 onwards, with a certain emphasis on the current development of the programs.
Research at the individual and societal level
The research is conducted from both macro and micro perspectives. The macro-analyzes, for example, deal with different explanations for the development of social policy, while the micro-analyzes shed light on the consequences of the programs at the individual level in both the short and long term. Recurring issues concern the interaction between different programs and the consequences of the programs in a life course perspective.
Databases at SOCPOL
An important part of the SOCPOL unit's activities consists of the establishment and further development of infrastructure for research, especially databases such as the Social Citizenship Indicator Program (SCIP), the Social Policy Indicator Database (SPIN) and Stockholm Birth Cohort Study (SBC).
