"N=2: The comparative study of the EU and the US as a research programme" abstract EU-US comparisons have proliferated in the past two decades or so. Yet by and large this scholarship so far has proceeded without a serious reflection on its own nature, raison d’être, and key characteristics—a lack of ‘self-awareness’ which in turn hampers mutual…

"Social Dialogue in the New Member States and the Great Recession: Only Doom and Gloom?"

"The Return of Geopolitics in Europe? Social mechanisms and foreign policy identity crises" abstract The end of the Cold War demonstrated the historical possibility of peaceful change and seemingly showed the superiority of non-realist approaches in International Relations. Yet in the post-Cold War period many European countries have experienced a resurgence of a distinctively realist…

"A formal model of decision-making on independence and accountability of regulatory agencies" abstract This paper aims to analyse, in theoretical terms, the concepts of independence and accountability, and at theorizing their relationship. Until now, the literature has disregarded (or not highlighted to a sufficient extent) the existence of an inverse relationship between independence and accountability.…

Politics and Society special lectures: Citizenship and welfare in a changing Europe "The Age of Dualization" abstract Inequality in most European societies has increased during the past decades. Contrary to those who claim that inequalities are primarily the result of economic trends and necessities, we show that policies matter. Rising inequality is not a direct result of…

Politics and Society special lectures: Citizenship and welfare in a changing Europe "Citizenship configurations: analysing the multiple purposes of citizenship regimes in Europe"  Abstract  This paper presents an analysis of the multiple purposes of citizenship regimes in 36 states in Europe. Previous studies on this topic suffer from two methodological deficits which lead to a…

"Economic reforms and social innovation in Cuba: the self-employment sector" abstract Over the last twenty years, Cuban government has prompted moderate market-oriented reforms in order to confront the severe crisis caused by the collapse of Socialist Block in Eastern Europe. This seminar focuses on reforms on employment structure and its consequences on Cuban society and economy.…

"Coordination, cooperation and conflict: Employment policy responses to the crisis – and why they differ" Abstract The aim of this paper is to use the employment-labor market policy responses to the crisis of the last several years in Italy and Spain to understand these two countries’ capacity for coordinated policy-making and policy innovation. It tries…

"Types of democrats in Europe. Hierarchy and differences" Abstract Democracy is one of the most problematic concepts in political science, as there is no agreement on how it should be defined and operationalised. Lack of consensus among the theorists has made it difficult to empirically undertake the study of democratic attitudes. In fact, although in the last years much…

"Unilateral consensus? Regulatory Negotiation in the Nursing Home Sector" abstract Over the last fifteen years, “regulatory negotiation”, whereby regulated firms and other stakeholders participate in the rule-making process, has gained popularity as part of the Better Regulation movement. Proponents argue that the process increases compliance rates and helps to ensure that the rules are written…

"Ethnic Composition and the Extreme Right: A Multilevel Analysis of Membership in the British National Party"

"Parental union dissolution and children's educational achievements in Norway: A within-family approach"

"Housework Distribution in Dual-earner Couples: Modeling Individual Satisfaction and Interpersonal Comparisons "

"Economic growth, social policy and poverty"

"Quiet Politics and Business Power"

"Time-out from work at the transition to motherhood. Policy and education effects in cross-national perspective."

"The new nexus between well-being and fertility"

"Dualization in Bismarckian Labour Markets"

"Governing Social Markets: What Impact on Service Quality among Third Sector Providers?"

"Married Women's Paid Work and Outsourcing of Domestic Work"