Social Policy and Sustainability
While welfare states and associated social policies have been successful in addressing social risks associated with the provision of capitalist growth and increasing their citizens’ wellbeing, they have also contributed to climate emergency and the ecological crisis. We carry out social-policy research of traditional themes such as labour markets, inequality or poverty, but also and particularly in the new circumstances of climate emergency.
Considering different scales from the local to the EU level, we (co-)develop relevant theoretical concepts such as ‘sustainable welfare’ and ‘degrowth/postgrowth’, conduct corresponding empirical research - for example into attitudes towards sustainable welfare and alternative forms of political mobilization. We also identify ‘eco-social’ policies capable of reembedding economy and society in planetary boundaries.
Latest publications within the area
Sustainable Welfare: Status quo of a new research paradigm: Zum Entwicklungsstand eines neuen Forschungsparadigmas
Sustainable Welfare: Zum Entwicklungsstand eines neuen ForschungsparadigmasTranslated title of the contribution: Sustain...Autonomy within limits: Post-growth and social imaginaries of work, education and democracy
Autonomy within limits: Post-growth and social imaginaries of work, education and democracyPaulsson, A., Koch, M., Islar...A scoping review of research on eco-social risks and inequality in a European context
A scoping review of research on eco-social risks and inequality in a European contextAvendal, C. & Emilsson, K., 2024, (...Analysis of air pollution reduction and climate change mitigation in the industry sector of Yangtze River Delta in China
Analysis of air pollution reduction and climate change mitigation in the industry sector of Yangtze River Delta in China...Football in the Climate Emergency: Exploring air travel reduction in the Norwegian senior national football teams
Football in the Climate Emergency: Exploring air travel reduction in the Norwegian senior national football teamsKoch, M...
Research Portal
Read more about our research, researchers and research output.
Economic Elites in the Climate Change Transformation
A research project on Practices, justifications and regulations of unsustainable lifestyles in Sweden.
Regulating the Polluter Elite
A research project about Exploring policy measures limiting carbon footprints of the rich.
FlyWell
A research project on how to reduce air travel and at the same time maintain a high quality of life.