The research seminar consists of three parts.

First, students participate in the INEQ -Economics of Inequality research seminars, a series of presentations and discussions on (mostly) empirical research on the causes and consequences of (socio-)economic inequalities and their measurement, from both micro and macro perspectives.

Confirmed speakers for the summer term 2025 include: 

• Joanne Haddad
• Jean-William Laliberte
• Ines Helm
• Pawel Bukowski
• Federica Braccioli
• Aline Bütikofer
• Tom Zohar
• Pedro Carneiro

Second, students present their own ongoing research and discuss it with their peers and the seminar convenors. Students are also invited to present research at very early stages or a research proposal.

Thirdly, students actively participate in the discussions of both the INEQ research seminar and their peers' presentations.

By the end of the seminar, students will have a sound understanding of current lines of research on the (socio-)economics of inequality, and in particular social mobility. Furthermore, by attending the seminars and by presenting their own work, they have learned how to give an academic talk, and how to lead and participate in academic discussions. In general, students will have improved their theoretical and empirical background relevant to research on the (socio-)economics of inequality.

We expect students to attend at least 80% of the sessions.

As the course consists of different parts, we combine different modes of teaching and learning.

First, students attend the INEQ research seminar series, where they learn about state-of-the-art research in empirical inequality research, labor economics and public economics.

Second, students present their own research on the causes and consequences of inequality (broadly defined).

Thirdly, all students are invited to participate in the discussion following the presentations of the INEQ research seminars and to act as "reviewers" by critically discussing the content of their fellow students' presentations.

Active participation during the course (including active participation in all discussions): 50% 

Presentation of one's own research related to the topics of the seminar (empirical inequality research, broadly defined): 50%

If the number of interested students exceeds 30, a waiting list will be opened. If students who have registered for the course cancel before the course starts or do not show up in the first session without prior notification of the seminar leaders, the course will be filled according to the position on the waiting list.

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Email: 

franziska.disslbacher@wu.ac.at

karin.heitzmann@wu.ac.at

Office hours upon appointment.