The research group ‘Political Economy of Inequality’ investigates how socioeconomic and political inequalities are interlinked and explores ways to mitigate them. It analyses political processes, how public attitudes form and are perceived by political elites, and which role parties assume in shaping the politics of redistribution and (socio-)ecological transformation. Applying diverse theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches, the group addresses the pressing challenges of preserving social cohesion and democratic legitimacy in times of rapid socio-economic and ecological change.
Although inequality is increasing in Germany, redistribution plays a subordinate role in politics – especially in election campaigns. The reasons for this and the factors that influence public perception are the research focus of Florian Fastenrath, newly appointed junior professor at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the University Alliance Ruhr and at the Institute for Socio-Economics of the University of Duisburg-Essen.
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UDE / Anke Waelischmiller
The research group ‘Political Economy of Inequality’ explores how socioeconomic inequalities are politically processed – focusing on mechanisms that obstruct or enable responsive, and more equitable democratic politics. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives and mixed methods, their work aims to elucidate how inequality is reproduced, contested, and potentially reduced within advanced capitalist democracies.
The research group pursues this agenda in three closely connected strands of inquiry, integrating micro-level perceptions, meso-level organisational logics, and macro-institutional structures:
This project analyses concrete political processes that shape redistributive policies, with a particular emphasis on taxation, social and climate policy. The research group examines the role of political parties – especially those committed to egalitarian goals – and investigates how internal organisational dynamics, competence patterns, strategic choices, historical legacies and organised interests influence their engagement with inequality. Specific case studies focus on the agenda-setting stage, critical discursive shifts, and the mobilisation dynamics that affect policy development over time.
Understanding how citizens perceive inequality and express attitudes towards redistribution and other relevant policies is key to the work in this strand. The research group studies how attitudes are formed and how they relate to broader ideas of fairness. It also explores how people prioritise different policy issues, and whether these priorities differ between high- and low-status citizens. Focus groups are well suited for identifying citizens’ policy priorities, clarifying where stable preferences exist – and where attitudes may be vague, ambivalent, or absent altogether. Combined with surveys and media analysis, this approach helps reveal how social identities and lived experiences shape both perceptions of inequality and concrete policy demands.
By linking qualitative data on citizens and political elites, this focus area explores the reciprocal relationship between public opinion and political decision-making. The group understands political representation as an interpretive and contested process. They examine how political actors respond to ambiguous or contradictory public signals, how they claim authority to interpret public opinion, and how these dynamics affect responsiveness across socio-economic groups.
Prof. Florian Fastenrath has taken up the position of the junior professorship in June 2025. He leads the research group 'Political Economy of Inequality'.
Detailed information about the staff members of the research group is available on the team website.
A list of publications will be available soon.