News about Global Dynamics of Social Policy

The Collaborative Research Center "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" is represented on Bluesky as well as on Mastodon and X. On these channels you will always find the latest news about the CRC 1342.

Furthermore, we also recommend the blog Social Policy Worldwide of the SOCIUM Research Center Inequality and Social Policy at the University of Bremen.

Contact:
Dr. Maximilian Hohmann
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 3
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57058
E-Mail: hohmann@uni-bremen.de

Thursday, 19 February 2026, 14:00, University of Bremen

On 19 February 2026, Felix Lanver defended his dissertation titled "The Expansion of Unemployment Insurance in the Global South, 1980–2019". From May 2022 to December 2025, he was employed in project A02, “Global Dynamics of Coverage and Generosity in Work-Injury Compensation, Unemployment and Old-Age Pensions". The supervisors of his PhD thesis were Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger and Dr. Nate Breznau.

Abstract:

This dissertation is the result of a data collection effort that maps the development of unemployment insurance (UI) in the Global South between 1980 and 2019. Based on a novel dataset compiled for this study, it documents reforms, coverage rates, and benefit generosity across 40 late-adopting countries. The analysis identifies a clear trend of UI expansion over the observed period. To explain this development, I examine the determinants of UI expansion along three dimensions: policy enactment, practical implementation, and benefit design. Across all analyses, democratization consistently emerges as the main driver of expansion. Furthermore, economic conditions and government ideology impact UI development under certain conditions. By introducing new data and testing established theories in an understudied policy domain, the study advances research on welfare state development in the Global South beyond typical social policy schemes such as pension and health care. This dissertation contributes to the research by (1) providing novel data on UI generosity, (2) mapping and describing the development and expansion of UI in 40 Global South economies, (3) identifying determinants of UI expansion and (4) integrating UI into the general research on welfare state expansion in the Global South.

Frontiers in Sociology

Prof. Dr. Irene Dingeldey and Andrea Schäfer have published a new article on standard employment and segmentation practices within the automotive industry in South Africa, in "Frontiers in Sociology". They were part of the team working in project A03 "Worlds of Labour: Coverage and Generosity of Employment Law" from the second phase of CRC 1342 (2022–2025).

Link: [Frontiers | Standard employment and segmentation practices within the automotive industry in South Africa]

Focusing on segmentation practices in an automotive manufacturing cluster in South Africa allowed us to present a detailed picture of a specific industrial labor market in the Global South. Segmentation practices are outlined in terms of the variation in employment security and quality, encompassing the use of different types of employment, wage levels, and working hours. To explain these practices in collective bargaining and at the firm level, we draw on the insights of the global production network approach, as well as the labor market segmentation approach, which emphasizes national institutional settings such as general labor law, collective bargaining systems, but also power resources of different actors. Using a deductive qualitative design, we subjected 17 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2023 to qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. This qualitative inquiry was further supplemented with quantitative data for the period 2022 to 2025 on labor norms and collective agreements.

Our findings demonstrate that, despite the presence of a universalist labor law regime, the power asymmetries between companies within the production network and along the supply chain as well as the bifurcated bargaining structure influence power relations between unions and employers. Hence, power asymmetries between companies are reproduced in the relationship between trade unions and employers along the supply chain, resulting in a specific pattern of segmentation.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Irene Dingeldey
Institut für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (iaw)
University of Bremen
Tel: +49 421 218-61710
E-Mail: dingeldey@uni-bremen.de 

Andrea Schäfer
University of Bremen
Tel: +49 421 218-60351
E-Mail: andrea.schaefer@uni-bremen.de

A Systematic Review of Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses

A recent article by Dr. Keonhi Son and Dr. Aysegul Kayaoglu, researchers from project A06 "Work-family Policies: Socioeconomic Outcomes and Policy Learning", has been published in "World Development". In this review article, they challenge the conventional view in labor economics that work-family challenges arise only in high-income countries, where many women work in the formal sector. The article presents the first research findings from Phase III of the project, as originally conceptualized in the proposal and further developed within the framework.

Hidden work-family challenges in the low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of causes, consequences, and policy responses [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2026.107349]

Abstract:

Work–family challenges are a major barrier to gender equality and contribute to the intergenerational reproduction of inequalities by undermining child development from the earliest stages of life. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), however, these tensions remain poorly captured by prevailing metrics, data, and frameworks. Drawing on a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2024, this article shows that motherhood penalties in LMICs are expressed through poverty-driven sectoral shifts into lower-quality jobs, heightened time poverty and what we term a work-family trade-off, where maternal employment in precarious conditions is associated with worse child health and developmental outcomes. We synthesize evidence on how micro-, meso- and macro-level factors jointly shape these patterns and highlight a “flexibility trap”: informal and agricultural jobs that appear compatible with caregiving in theory often deepen work-family tensions in practice. We then review empirical evidence on three family policy domains (i.e., paid leave, cash transfers, and early childhood education and care (ECEC)) showing that ECEC most consistently improves both women’s employment quality and child outcomes, while cash transfers primarily ease poverty-driven labor responses and paid leave yield mixed effects in high-informality settings. Building on these findings, we develop a conceptual framework that locates “poverty-driven work-family challenges” at the center of LMIC experiences. The review concludes with design principles for family policies and a research agenda that better captures hidden work-family tensions in LMICs.

Contact:
Dr. Aysegul Kayaoglu
MZES
A5, 6
68159 Mannheim
E-Mail: ayseguel.kayaoglu@uni-mannheim.de

Dr. Keonhi Son
MZES
A5, 6 (Building A)
68159 Mannheim
Phone: +49 621 181-2803
E-Mail: son@uni-mannheim.de

Elections of the Spokesperson, Deputy Spokesperson, Members of the Executive Committee, and Members of the Equal Opportunities Committee

On 06.02.2026 the first General Assembly of CRC 1342 in its third funding phase (2026–2029) was held as an online meeting to formally constitute the centre and appoint its key governing bodies. In addition to electing the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the members of the Executive Board as well as parts of the Equal Opportunities Committee were newly elected.

Following the welcome address and reports on current developments, Prof. Dr. Markus Tepe was unanimously elected as the new Spokesperson, and Prof. Dr. Sarah Berens as the new Deputy Spokesperson of the CRC 1342. In addition to these two, the current Executive Committee comprises Prof. Dr. Sophia Hunger, Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger, and Prof. Dr. Cornelius Torp. All of these elections were also carried out unanimously.

Furthermore, the professorial members of the Collaborative Research Centre’s Equal Opportunities Committee were elected without any dissenting votes. These include Prof. Dr. Wiebke Schulz and Prof. Dr. Ivo Mossig as well as Prof. Dr. Sarah Berens, and Prof. Dr. Tobias ten Brink.

The CRC 1342 "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" is headed by a Executive Committee elected by the CRC members. The committee makes decisions by simple majority and has a quorum if at least two thirds of the board members are present. On the Executive Committee, the spokesperson is responsible for the administration and management of the CRC. The deputy spokesperson and the representatives of the project directors focus on the coordination of the projects, the cooperation between the projects, and on the central database project.

The members of the Executive Committee and further information can be found [here].

The EOC is a consultative member of the CRC 1342 board and advises CRC members on all recruitment procedures within the CRC. The EOC advocates gender equality and the reconciliation of professional and family activities. It also advises and informs all members of the CRC on these issues. Additionally, the EOC is in contact with the equal opportunities networks at the University of Bremen.

The members of the EOC and further information can be found [here].

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Markus Tepe
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 5
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58520
E-Mail: markus.tepe@uni-bremen.de

05.02.2026

The Annual Conference of the SOCIUM - Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy - was held on 05.02.2026 in the Rotunde of the Cartesium building at the University of Bremen. The collegial exchange focused on mutual reporting on current research findings and strategic initiatives. Participating institutions included, alongside SOCIUM, the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1342 "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" and the German Institute for Interdisciplinary Social Policy Research (DIFIS).

Contact:
Dr. Maximilian Hohmann
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 3
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57058
E-Mail: hohmann@uni-bremen.de

Funding phase 2026-2029

The start of the new year marks the beginning of the third and final phase of the Collaborative Research Center "Global Dynamics of Social Policy". A continuing research programme has been developed for the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029. This phase focuses on the socioeconomic effectiveness of social policy and its impact on political integration.

A concise overview as well as a detailed description of the research programme is available [here]. It follows on from the two previous phases I (2018-2021) and II (2022-2025).

In addition, information on all 13 projects of the third funding phase (2026–2029) can be found [here]. Several positions are currently being advertised to complete the research teams (application deadline: 14 January 2026). [Job Vacancies]

Further information about CRC 1342, including contact details, is available [here].

Contact:
Dr. Irina Wiegand
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 5
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58508
E-Mail: irina.wiegand@uni-bremen.de

Job Vacancies - University of Bremen

The Collaborative Research Center "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" is recruiting staff for its third phase. This final funding period will run for four years, from January 2026 to December 2029.

The following positions were advertised:

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in Computational Social Science in Information Management Project (INF)

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in project B13 "Welfare States and Protest: Understanding the Contentious Outcomes of Social Policy in Africa"

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in project B14 "Socially Motivated Reasoning in Social Policy Evaluation"

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in project B15 "Under Global Shock: Outcomes of Different Social Protection Programs in Britain, Chile, and Germany, 1970-2000"

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in project B15 "Under Global Shock: Outcomes of Different Social Protection Programs in Britain, Chile, and Germany, 1970-2000"

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in project B15 "Under Global Shock: Outcomes of Different Social Protection Programs in Britain, Chile, and Germany, 1970-2000"

Closing date: 14.01.2026

Contact:
Dr. Irina Wiegand
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 5
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58508
E-Mail: irina.wiegand@uni-bremen.de

Press Release (21.11.2025)

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is supporting the Collaborative Research Center 1342 "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" in a third phase for another four years until the end of 2029. In total, over nine million euros have been made available to successfully complete the twelve-year research agenda.

On November 21, 2025, the German Research Foundation's Review Committee for Collaborative Research Centers announced that it would continue to fund CRC 1342 for another four years with over nine million euros. The third funding phase will begin on January 1, 2026.

"We are thrilled about this outstanding success for our university and its partner institutions", commented Prof. Dr. Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen. "Over the past eight years, CRC 1342 has established itself as a renowned institution that will now continue to be able to make an important contribution to its interdisciplinary research area for another four years."

Collaborative Research Centers are among the largest and most important research networks supported by the DFG. CRC 1342 began its work in 2018. In addition to SOCIUM as the anchor institute, CRC 1342 involves other research institutes and facilities at the University of Bremen, Constructor University Bremen, Bielefeld University, Marburg University, the University of Bamberg, the University of Mannheim, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. Several non-university research institutes are also participating, including the Research Centre for East European Studies and the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM).

In 13 subprojects, around 80 researchers from the fields of political science, sociology, history, geography, law, and computer science are investigating the global effectiveness of state-sponsored social policy. The two funding phases have so far resulted in hundreds of publications in international, peer-reviewed journals, in the form of monographs, anthologies, and policy briefs.

In the third phase, which will begin in January 2026, two project areas will examine how social programs contribute to improving social living conditions and support political integration. In project area A, six subprojects will investigate how social policy affects social and political structures worldwide. In area B, six further subprojects will analyze the social and political consequences of social policy measures in selected countries and regions of the world. The Information Infrastructure Project (INF) will further expand the Global Welfare State Information System (WeSIS). The web-based, interactive system went online in the second funding phase and has been available to researchers and the public free of charge ever since.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Markus Tepe
University of Bremen
SOCIUM – Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy
Phone: +49 421 218-58520
Email: markus.tepe@uni-bremen.de

Contact:
Dr. Maximilian Hohmann
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 3
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57058
E-Mail: hohmann@uni-bremen.de

27 November 2025, 13:00-14:00 (CET)

Dr. Gulnaz Isabekova-Landau, a postdoctoral researcher in the Collaborative Research Centre 1342, will serve as one of the two discussants in the webinar "Panel discussion on social determinants of tuberculosis". She is part of project B06 "Resource Boom and Social Policy in Authoritarian Regimes. A Means of Securing Regime Stability?".

The webinar will take place on 27 November 2025 from 13:00 to 14:00 (CET). It is organized by the European Respiratory Society, one of the leading medical organizations in the respiratory field, and UNITE4TB, a public-private partnership dedicated to developing more effective treatment regimens and drugs to address drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The webinar will focus on global health equity objectives and tuberculosis control strategies by contributing to a better understanding and improved targeting of common social determinants of tuberculosis, including poverty, poor housing, and malnutrition, among other factors. Participation is free of charge but requires prior registration with the European Respiratory Society.

Further information is available at:

https://channel.ersnet.org/media-114799-panel-discussion-on-social-determinants-of-tuberculosis-a-global-perspective-27-november-2025

Contact:
Dr. Gulnaz Isabekova-Landau