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!