WP 4. Moral and political economy of inequality

Työpaketti 4: Eriarvoisuutta koskeva politiikka sekä asenne- ja mielipideympäristö

Ei ole yksimielisyyttä siitä, miten ja missä määrin eriarvoisuutta pitäisi Suomessa lievittää. TITA tutkiikin eriarvoisuutta koskevia asenteita, kansalaismielipidettä, julkista keskustelua ja puhetapoja ja sekä niiden vaikutusta poliittisiin päätöksiin. TITA selvittää esimerkiksi sitä, miten talouskriisi ja pakolaistilanne ovat vaikuttaneet suomalaisten näkemyksiin hyvinvointivaltiosta.

TITA arvioi myös poliittisia prosesseja ja päätösten taustalla olevia tavoitteita. Niiden tutkiminen on tärkeää, koska esimerkiksi sosiaalietuuksien taso riippuu poliittisesta päätöksenteosta. Samalla TITA hahmottaa vaihtoehtoisia politiikkaratkaisuja, jotka voisivat lievittää eriarvoisuutta.

WP 4. Moral and political economy of inequality

Inequality is a normative concept, upon which people often feel strongly. TITA explores the political and public discourse on inequality along with long-term changes in welfare attitudes in order to examine both the association between economic inequality and public support for redistribution as well as the association between welfare attitudes and related policy measures. TITA also analyses popular evaluations of welfare state performance and public support for proposed policy reforms.

The level of benefits is a political decision. Therefore, it is highly important that the political process and politics that produce outcomes be evaluated as well.

Scientific coordinator:
Helena Blomberg, University of Helsinki

4.1. Moral and political economy of inequality in policy process

Team concentrates on the political economy of in/equality and studies political and public discourse on in/equality.

Team leader:

Olli Kangas, University of Turku

Members:

Mikko Niemelä, University of Turku
Vesa-Matti Paasivaara, University of Turku
Sampo Varjonen, University of Turku

External research partners and teams:

Center for Welfare State Research, University of Southern Denmark
Katrin Uba, Uppsala University

4.2. Public attitudes and evaluations of policy reforms

Team studies long-term changes in welfare attiitudes in order to examine both the association between popular support for redistribution and economic inequality and the association between welfare attitudes and related policy measures. It also analyses people’s evaluations of welfare state performance and the public support of proposed policy reforms.

Team leader:

Helena Blomberg, University of Helsinki

Members:

Johanna Kallio, University of Turku
Olli Kangas, University of Turku
Christian Kroll, University of Helsinki
Mikko Niemelä, University of Turku
Suvi Linnanvirta, University of Helsinki

External research partners and teams:

Wim van Oorschot, Leuven University