The Kick-off Workshop of the Social Classes in the Digital Age Project (DigClass)

Kick-off Workshop of the new CAS project: Social Classes in the Digital Age (DigClass)

Description

The kick-off workshop of the new project of the Centre for Advanced Studies, «Social Classes in the Digital Age (DigClass)», took place online on September 21st and 22nd.

The kick-off workshop brought together 13 high-profile international experts on social inequality from different social science disciplines to discuss technological change and inequality, two topics directly under the European Commission’s priorities.

The programme will be structured around four overarching questions:

  1. Are existing systems of social protection adequate for the digital age?
  2. Are contemporary societies still class-based?
  3. How are digital technologies transforming the social structure?
  4. Does socioeconomic position still drive political outcomes?

Below you can watch all the sessions of the workshop and check the programme:

Practical information

September 21 and 22, 2021
Languages: English
Organisers: Joint Research Centre
Location: Sevilla, Spain

Social Classes in the Digital Age

Kick-off Workshop Summary Report

View Summary

Event

The Kick-off Workshop of the Social Classes in the Digital Age Project (DigClass) Part 1

Day 1: 21 September 2021
14:00 – 14:15

Opening Address

  • Jutta Thielen del Pozo, Head of the Scientific Development Unit A5, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
  • Enrique Fernández-Macías, Employment and Skills Team Coordinator Unit B4, JRC, European Commission
  • Lázsló Andor, Secretary General, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, and former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (2010-2014)
14:15 – 16:00

Session I: Policy – Are existing systems of social protection adequate for the digital age?
Chair: Leire Salazar, DigClass Team – Project Leader
Speakers:

  • Bea Cantillon, Antwerp University
  • Marius Busemeyer, University of Konstanz
  • Aaron Reeves, University of Oxford
16:00 – 16:15

Break

16:15 – 18:00

Session II: Social Class – Are contemporary societies still class-based?
Chair: Carlos Gil, DigClass Team
Speakers:

  • John Roemer, Yale University
  • Kim Weeden, Cornell University
  • Daniel Oesch, University of Lausanne

The Kick-off Workshop of the Social Classes in the Digital Age Project (DigClass) Part 2

Day 2: 22 September 2021
14:00 – 15:45

Session III: Technology – How are digital technologies transforming the social structure?
Chair: Davide Villani, DigClass Team
Speakers:

  • Aina Gallego, University of Barcelona, IBEI and IPEG
  • Mark Levels, Maastricht University
  • Nicole Wu, University of Toronto
  • Anke Hassel, Hertie School and Jacques Delors Centre
15:45 – 16:00

Break

16:00 – 17:45

Session IV: Politics – Does socioeconomic position still drive political outcomes?
Chair: Guillem Vidal, DigClass Team
Speakers:

  • Jonas Pontusson, University of Geneva
  • Jane Gingrich, University of Oxford
  • Piero Stanig, Bocconi University
17:45 – 17:50

Conclusions: Leire Salazar, DigClass Team – Project Leader

17:55 – 18:15

Closing Address: Sabine Henzler, Director of the JRC Directorate A – Strategy, Work Programme and Resources, European Commission

DigClass Kick-off Workshop

The DigClass kick-off workshop will offer a very stimulating debate on the implications of technological change for social inequalities, aiming to promote collaborations between leading experts and institutions globally to feed the policy process relevant for the Commission. Each of the questions structuring the workshop will be addressed by three to four experts in a round table format.

The workshop is the inaugural event of the DigClass project, a project born out of increasing concern in Europe about the implications of the digital revolution for social inequalities and democratic processes. The project aims to understand better how digital technologies alter the mechanisms that generate inequalities in the distribution of resources and life chances, which is crucial for social policies to respond to the challenges of the digital revolution.

Drop us a line at JRC-CAS-DIGCLASS@ec.europa.eu if you want to stay tuned with our seminar series, publications, and other activities.