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In recent years many commentators and social scientists have claimed that individuals and households in Western societies are facing increased economic insecurities. One alleged force behind this trend is the downscaling of welfare state mechanisms that ameliorate the negative economic consequences of critical events such as unemployment or separation. These claims have rarely been tested empirically, however. The project will therefore use German and US panel data to study the changing consequences of key life risks such as unemployment, illness, separation, and single parenthood.

It is well known that lower social strata participate in politics less frequently and intensely than the more well-to-do. However, international comparative studies have shown that the amount of social inequality in political participation differs strongly between societies. The project analyses causes and consequences of these differences. In particular, it focuses on the question of why are some democracies more successful at integrating the lower strata in the political system. Furthermore, it focuses on the conditions under which the so called "democratic dilemma" of unequal participation (Lijphardt) arises. Possible answers to these questions include differences in the electoral systems, as well as in the nature of the cleavages in the various societies.