Globalization and Changes in Life Courses in Modern Societies Hans-Peter Blossfeld Universität Bamberg

Research 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 Project social scientists from 21 countries Impact of globalization on life courses (transition from youth to adulthood, mid- career men and women, retirement) Changes in jobs, family, fertility Comparison of OECD-type countries Developments since the late 1980s Using life course and panel data

GLOBALIZATION Internationalization of markets Intensification of competition through deregulation, privatization, liberalization Intensification of competition through deregulation, privatization, liberalization Spread of global networks and knowledge via new ICTs Rising importance of markets and their dependence on random shocks Increasing uncertainty Endogenous intensification of innovation, increasing rate of economic and social change Accelerating market transactions Increasing volatility of markets

INSTITUTIONAL FILTERS Increasing uncertainty Employment systems Employment systems Education systems Education systems Welfare regimes Welfare regimes Family systems Family systems 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 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 a consequence of transformation Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia

European Science Foundation (ESF) Established in Strasbourg in 1974 Membership Organizations are National Science Foundations and Research Institutions in Europe 77 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 2004 Its 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!