Description

This is the summary report of the International workshop on Social class analysis in the digital age: New approaches and perspective, held in Seville on 4 and 5 December 2024. The first session presents research challenges traditional notions of stable occupational positions, highlighting dynamic transitions throughout individuals’ careers. The session on class inequality reveals a surprising stability in earnings stratification by social class in some countries, challenging some assumptions about income mobility. Social class significantly influences earnings trajectories, particularly impacting women due to family-related disruptions. Research on intergenerational mobility highlighted that socioeconomic shifts affect intergenerational support dynamics, potentially hindering opportunities for offspring from disadvantaged backgrounds. Household employment uncertainty impacts children’s cognitive development, while broadband internet shows gendered disparities in academic performance, particularly affecting girls from socially vulnerable families. On the second day of the workshop, the first session was dedicated to studying the relationship between technology and labour market inequality. Authors delved into the impact of technology on labour market dynamics and inequality, discussing the polarization hypothesis, economic transformations’ effects on politics, and the relationship between robots and labour markets. The following session explored the intersection of technology and politics, examining digitalization’s potential for political conflict and policy responses to labour market shifts, including the impact of automation on unionization and political landscapes. Then, the seminar explored different policy responses to technological challenges, discussing citizens’ perceptions of labour market risks, effectiveness of policy interventions, and alternative income-guarantee schemes’ potential to address social protection gaps. In the last session, we delved into political behaviour amidst technological change, examining upward social mobility, intergenerational mobility’s influence on voting, and the role of macroeconomic factors in voter turnout, highlighting the complex relationship between social mobility and political outcomes. Final remarks concluded with reflections on its interdisciplinary nature and the need to understand technological change within broader macro challenges. It was noted that there is a prevalence of empirical over theoretical work in social stratification, suggesting a need for balance and advancement in both domains.

The DigClass team at the Centre for Advanced Studies (Joint Research Centre – European Commission) is pleased to announce an international workshop titled «Social Class Analysis in the Digital Age: New Approaches and Perspectives». This workshop aims to explore innovative contributions to social stratification and inequality research in the context of the digital revolution.

The workshop comprises interdisciplinary academics and cutting-edge research on the following themes:

1. Class measurement
2. Class inequality
3. Intergenerational transmission mechanisms
4. Technology and labour market inequality
5. Technology and politics
6. Policy responses
7. Political behaviour

The DigClass Team Scientific Committee organises the workshop: Leire Salazar, Carlos Gil-Hernández, Guillem Vidal-Lorda, Davide Villani, Alicia de Quinto

Practical information

Languages: English
Organisers: Joint Research Centre
Location: Sevilla, Spain