WZB - Berlin Social Science Center

The WZB is delighted to invite nominations for the seventh A.SK Social Science Award. Endowed with $200,000, the prize is conferred every two years on social science researchers whose work has significantly promoted political and economic reform. Previous recipients include Sir Anthony Atkinson, Martha C. Nussbaum, Transparency International, Paul Collier, Esther Duflo, and John Ruggie (pictured).

Why are some societies more unequal than others? For researchers Anselm Rink and Hanno Hilbig, the roots of the problem are buried deep in family history. Their new study reveals that fair inheritance customs act as a social leveler: driving equality, empowering women, and ultimately rewarding talent over status.

In the United States, around 10 million people ­­are at risk of becoming part of the working poor. Leaving home, becoming a parent, or going through a divorce can dramatically increase this exceptionally high figure. Zachary van Winkle and Emanuela Struffolino are the first to study how such family demographic transitions can push people into at-work poverty and breed social exclusion.

Radical right parties have seen increasing electoral success. What does this imply for parties and party systems? Do established mainstream parties adjust their policy positions in response to successful radical right parties? Werner Krause and Tarik Abou-Chadi tackle these questions in a new blog post.