Research group Level of living (LNU)

Girls often outperform boys in school, yet remain significantly underrepresented in technical education and careers. A new doctoral dissertation from Stockholm University shows that gendered patterns in education begin forming long before university – through early-emerging gender differences in self-confidence, perceived abilities, and future ambitions, beyond the effects of academic performance.

Higher education has traditionally been viewed as a reliable pathway to better jobs, higher incomes, and increased social mobility. But how has the role of education evolved in recent decades and what does this mean for inequality and opportunity today?

Education level and urban versus rural residence increasingly influence young people's likelihood of supporting radical right-wing parties, according to a new doctoral thesis by Amanda Almstedt Valldor, PhD candidate in sociology at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University.

Job quality in Sweden has improved significantly over the past 50 years, but at the same time, workplace stress has sharply increased. This is shown in the doctoral thesis by sociologist Edvin Syk, presented at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University.

Roujman Shahbazian, PhD in Sociology, has been appointed Associate Professor at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI).

Researchers from Stockholm University, Bocconi University, and the Rockwool Foundation have studied poverty’s lasting impact across generations in wealthy countries. By examining the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, the team found that welfare systems play a significant role in whether children born into poverty will remain poor as adults.

Three researchers at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) have been awarded research grants from Forte to study inequality, discrimination and young people's future prospects in Sweden.

SOFI researcher Per Engzell has been awarded the 2024 Hans L. Zetterberg Prize for his groundbreaking research on social stratification. Through his insights into social mobility and the learning losses caused by the pandemic, Engzell has contributed valuable scientific and societal findings that have gained global recognition. SOFI researcher Per Engzell is awarded the 2024 Hans L. Zetterberg Prize for his research on social stratification. His work has not only advanced the field but also provided insights important to society.** Engzell, part of the Swedish Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University and University College London, has published his studies in leading academic journals such as the American Sociological Review and is also a strong advocate for open science. His most cited work addresses the learning loss among young people following school closures during the pandemic – a topic highlighted in both PNAS and Nature Human Behaviour. "I feel incredibly honored to receive the Hans L. Zetterberg Prize. Receiving such a prestigious recognition is highly motivating. It is gratifying to know that the work one puts in has both scientific and societal relevance, and that it is acknowledged in this way," says Engzell.   Motivation "The 2024 Hans L. Zetterberg Prize is awarded to Associate Professor Per Engzell, University College London and SOFI, Stockholm University, for his groundbreaking research on various forms of social stratification, which has also generated results beneficial to society. Per Engzell has published his theoretically driven and methodologically rigorous studies in top international sociology journals, such as the *American Sociological Review*, but also in broader contexts, and he is strongly engaged in issues of open science. Several of Engzell's scholarly contributions relate to themes raised in Hans L. Zetterberg's research on social mobility and have provided new insights from analyses of both historical data and income mobility. Per Engzell's research not only meets the highest standards of scientific quality but is also designed to ensure that the results are relevant to society at large. His most scientifically cited work concerns the learning losses among young people that arose in the wake of school closures during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study was published in *PNAS* and followed by a review article in *Nature Human Behaviour*, which also illustrates the interdisciplinary relevance of Engzell's research. In the spirit of Hans L. Zetterberg, Engzell is also an inspiring lecturer and 'public intellectual,' which contributes to increasing his impact beyond strictly scientific contexts, reaching the broader public and policymakers."   About the Hans L. Zetterberg Prize in Sociology The Hans L. Zetterberg Prize in Sociology is awarded annually to younger researchers, Swedish or international, who through their scholarly work in sociology, preferably by successfully combining theory and practice, have advanced the research frontier. Read more here.

Are you a driven researcher interested in social policy, welfare, inequality, and the labor market? The Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) at Stockholm University is now seeking a postdoctoral researcher in sociology. The Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) at Stockholm University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in sociology. Suitable candidates are dedicated researchers who wish to delve into areas such as social policy, welfare, inequality, and the labor market. The position is affiliated with the research groups Level of Living (LNU) and Social Policy (SOCPOL) and offers a dynamic and stimulating work environment where you will have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the leading researchers in the field. Read more and apply here.

Welcome to SOFI, Martin Hällsten! Martin is a Professor of Sociology who studies social mobility across one or several generations. He examines aspects such as class, occupation, education, wealth, and other inherited factors to trace inequality back through generations. We asked him a few questions to get to know him and his research. Hello Martin, how has your first time at SOFI been? – Good. I’ve worked at SU for 20 years, so it feels very familiar. And it’s not my first time at SOFI; I started here in October 2004 as a research assistant. Then, I was a PhD student for five years, and after I graduated, I was a researcher for two years. Then, I moved to the sociology department, where I have worked until now. What distinguishes SOFI from other parts of SU? – What sets SOFI apart is its cohesive research focus. Here, everyone shares common research interests, which not only fosters collaborations but also encourages in-depth discussions. This is in contrast to other departments where research interests are more diverse, making it a bit more challenging to find common ground. How would you describe your research to an outsider? – I identify general societal patterns using statistical models and quantitative data. The goal is to understand structures and connections rather than individual anecdotes. It’s about being humble before the fact that people have different starting points. What has been the most surprising in your research so far? – It’s often hard to be surprised because you have reasonable expectations. However, I can sometimes be amazed that there is indeed a structure that we can capture with statistical models and quantitative data. That it really is there, that everything isn’t just noise. It’s like waking up and realizing that I’m doing something meaningful. What are you most looking forward to at SOFI? – To have the opportunity to really focus on research. It’s a great privilege.   More about Martin Hällsten Personal page:  Martin Hällsten Interview from 2023:  "Research is not truth, but an ongoing conversation”

SOFI professors Jan O. Jonsson and Carina Mood, recently presented their research findings at a lecture at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Their research focuses on the integration of children and youth with immigrant backgrounds in Swedish schools. Jonsson and Mood's research shows, among other things, that students with foreign backgrounds generally have stronger school engagement and higher ambitions compared to their native-born peers. Despite some challenges for newly arrived students, the study shows that school integration is going better than many believe. The full lecture is now available online here . Read General Secretary Hans Ellegren's reflections after the presentation here .