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
”Tax the rich” – för planetens skull
”Tax the rich” – för planetens skullEmilsson, K., 2026 Jun 7, Skånes folkblad.Research output: Contribution to specialis...De ultrarika i skottgluggen – svenskarna vill se hårdare klimatkrav
De ultrarika i skottgluggen – svenskarna vill se hårdare klimatkravEmilsson, K. & Lee, J., 2026 Jun 3, ETC.Research outp...De rika och klimatet: Svenska folkets inställning till rika individer i ljuset av klimatkrisen
De rika och klimatet: Svenska folkets inställning till rika individer i ljuset av klimatkrisenEmilsson, K., Lee, J., Koc...Living through war: Personal and institutional responses in Ukraine
Living through war: Personal and institutional responses in UkraineChernysh, O. (Editor), Thell, N. (Editor), Söderberg,...Perspectives on Social and Justice Issues in Climate Policy – Comparing the Just Transitions, Sustainable Welfare and Eco-Social Policy Literatures
Perspectives on Social and Justice Issues in Climate Policy – Comparing the Just Transitions, Sustainable Welfare and Ec...
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.