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The EQUALSOC project is a so-called “Network of Excellence“ (NoE) that will mobilise and develop research expertise across Europe on economic change, quality of life and social cohesion. Besides the WZB 13 other institutes or universities are participating. There are institutes from Sweden (SOFI), the Netherlands (AIAS), France (CNRS), Italy (DSRS, Biocca, University of Turin), Ireland (ESRI), Germany (MZES, WZB), Great Britain (Nuffield), Spain (UPF), Estonia (UT) and Belgium (CSB). The project is funded by the European Union.

Aim:
The research project wants to link variations of the welfare state with the living conditions, relation patterns and attitudes of different generations. Therefore, four countries (Germany, France, Italy and Sweden) have been selected which represent different welfare state arrangements.

The enlargement of the European Union has strengthened interest for a systematic record on the quality of life in different European regions. Four of our unit’s externally funded projects dealt with the development of an extensive and systematic comparison of the living conditions in 28 European countries (EU-15, new member states, Turkey). In 2002, different spheres of life were examined more closely by using specially harmonised Eurobarometer data and reports on income situation, social exclusion, working conditions, fertility, health care as well as general quality of life were prepared.