Lesson 1

Introduction

-Some key concepts: What is structure? What is change? Power, Resources, Inequality, Exploitation, Life-Chances

-The origins of stratification theory (I): Karl Marx

 

Lesson 2

The origins of stratification theory (II): Max Weber

-Class and Status in Weber

-Marx and Weber: Similarities and differences

 

Lesson 3

Introducing Contemporary Class Schemas: Erik Olin Wright and John Goldthorpe

-How many classes are there?

-The problem of the middle classes

-Concepts and operationalization

-Olin Wright and Goldthorpe: Differences and Similarities

 

Lesson 4

Class Mobility: An Introduction, key concepts and major debates

-Marxist and Liberal theories of inequality and change

-Introducing the mobility table

-Absolute vs Relative Mobility Rates, Social Fluidity and the Odds Ratio

 

Lesson 5

Comparative Research on Social Mobility

-Theories about cross-national variation in mobility patterns

-The CASMIN project and beyond

-What we know and what we don’t: A review of the main findings

 

Lesson 6

Educational stratification I

-Educational attainment and the meritocracy debate

-The OED triangle

-Liberal and related theories of meritocracy

-Cross-national trends in educational stratification (I)

 

Lesson 7

Educational stratification II

-Cross-national trends II

-Increasing meritocracy? Where? Why?

-Mechanisms: Primary and Secondary Effects of Class

 

Lesson 8

Investigating Primary Effects: Ability and Inequality

-Types of Ability: Cognitive and non-cognitive abilities

-The Transmission of Ability:  Mechanisms and debates

-The importance of early intervention: The Perry Preschool Project

 

Lesson 9

Income Inequality

-Measuring income inequality

-Economic Development and Income Inequality

-Poverty: What is it and how to measure it

 

Lesson 10

Inequality and Homogamy

-What is homogamy and why should we care about it?

-Marriage markets; Types of homogamy and a review of the main findings

-From breadwinner to dual-earner families; consequences for women’s class position

-Conclusions: Homogamy and social inequality

 

Lesson 11

Gender Stratification

-The Labour-Market Participation of Women

-Occupational gender segregation: Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions

-The Wage Gap: Explained and Unexplained components

-Time trends and international comparisons

 

Lesson 12

Explaining gender differences in Labour-Market behaviour

-Demand-side theories: Discrimination and social closure

-Supply-side theories: Preferences and Rational calculations, Socialization and social learning

 

Lesson 13

Ethnic stratification: An introduction to concepts, findings and debates

-Main concepts: Race, Ethnicity, Categorization, Segregation. Assimilation, Integration or Incorporation? 

-Ethnic gaps: Differences, Penalties or Discrimination?

-Ethnic penalties in the labour market: main findings and explanations

-Ethnic differences in educational attainment:  main findings and explanations