This project group addresses the intersection of demography and social inequality and uses historical and international comparisons to analyze the causes and consequences of changing life course patterns. Starting point is the widespread assumption that today’s life courses have become more complex, flexible and individualised because people increasingly have to adapt their lives to the demands of a globalised eocnomy and increasingly flexible job markets. Such developments are often associated with negative consequences such as growing social inequality, economic insecurity, stress and greater difficulty to combine a career and family.

The  project group uses longitudinal data to explore how certain patterns in demographic and socio-economic processes like fertility and employment careers are associated with resource allocation. Three life stages are currently in focus: family formation, employment careers and the transition to retirement.