Globalization andGlobalization and Changes in Life Courses Changes in Life Courses
in Modern Societies in Modern Societies
Hans-Peter BlossfeldHans-Peter BlossfeldUniversität BambergUniversität Bamberg
Research GoalsResearch Goals
To which extent has globalization influenced life courses in modern societies?
How do different domestic institutions filter these transformations?
How do actors respond to globalization?
How does globalization affect social inequality?
The GLOBALIFE ProjectThe GLOBALIFE Project1999-20051999-2005
64 social scientists from 21 countriesImpact of globalization on life courses
(transition from youth to adulthood, mid-career men and women, retirement)
Changes in jobs, family, fertilityComparison of OECD-type countriesDevelopments since the late 1980sUsing life course and panel data
GLOBALIZATIONGLOBALIZATION
Internationalizationof markets
Internationalizationof markets
Intensification of competition
through deregulation, privatization, liberalization
Intensification of competition
through deregulation, privatization, liberalization
Spread of global networks and
knowledge via new ICTs
Spread of global networks and
knowledge via new ICTs
Rising importance of markets and their dependence on random shocks
Rising importance of markets and their dependence on random shocks
Increasing uncertaintyIncreasing uncertainty
Endogenous intensification of innovation, increasing rate of economic and social
change
Accelerating market
transactions
Increasing volatility of
markets
INSTITUTIONAL FILTERS
Increasing uncertaintyIncreasing uncertainty
Employment systems
Employment systems
Educationsystems
Educationsystems
WelfareregimesWelfareregimes
FamilysystemsFamilysystems
Level of employment
and job stability,
career mobility,
security, flexibility,
work-related benefits
Level of employment
and job stability,
career mobility,
security, flexibility,
work-related benefits
Timing and ease of
labor market entry,
retraining,
reentry,
life-long learning
Timing and ease of
labor market entry,
retraining,
reentry,
life-long learning
Safety net,
employment-
sustaining policies,
child care options,
dependence on
primary earner,
insurance systems,
retirement policies
Safety net,
employment-
sustaining policies,
child care options,
dependence on
primary earner,
insurance systems,
retirement policies
Level of care giving
responsibility,
presence of other
earners, cohabitation,
marriage, family roles
Level of care giving
responsibility,
presence of other
earners, cohabitation,
marriage, family roles
Uncertainty is channelled to specific social groups
Classification of Country-Clusters
Liberal: flexible employment relations low standardization of occupations importance of (labor) market
marginal welfare state
US, UK, Australia, Canada
Social-Democratic: moderate employment protection active employment support welfare state focuses on gender & social equality
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland
Conservative: high employment protection high standardization of occupations low employment support
generous support of outsiders
welfare state supports family
Germany, The Netherlands (France)
Family Oriented: strong insider-outsider logic few active employment programs
marginal welfare state
extended family support
Spain, Italy, Mexico, Ireland
?Post-Socialist:
path-breaking as aconsequence of transformation
Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia
European Science Foundation (ESF)European Science Foundation (ESF)Established in Strasbourg in 1974Membership Organizations are National Science
Foundations and Research Institutions in Europe77 Membership Organizations form 30 countries (not only
from the 25 EU countries!)ESF covers all disciplines, including social sciences and
humanities Budget 40 million Euro in 2004Its role is purely research driven, which distinguishes ESF
from the EC
ESF’s mission is to organize research in Europe above the national levels
ESF pro-actively promotes cooperation between its Member Organizations across national boarders (networks, workshops, conferences etc.)
ESF seeks to support European science-driven research in a global context
ESF provides a platform for trans-national initiatives
ESF could provide a platform for the NSF for joint funding of international comparative work!