Social Class in Europe: An introduction to the European Socio-economic Classification

by David Rose (Editor), Eric Harrison (Editor)

Overview

This timely volume introduces a new social class schema, the European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC), which has been specifically developed and tested for use in EU comparative research. Social Class in Europe aims to introduce researchers to the new classification and its research potential. Since socio-economic classifications are so widely used in official and academic research, this collection is essential reading for all users of both government and academic social classifications. While primarily aimed at researchers who will be using the ESeC, the book’s contents will also have a wider appeal as it is suitable for students taking substantive courses in European studies or as a supplementary text for undergraduates studying the EU, Sociology and Economics. Because of its inherent methodological interest, the book should prove a valuable tool for undergraduate and graduate courses that discuss how social scientists construct and validate basic measures. It will also be required reading for policy makers and analysts concerned with social inequality and social exclusion across Europe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415534239
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/21/2012
Series:	Studies in European Sociology
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Rose is Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex. He was academic convener of both the ESRC Review of Government Social Classifications, which led to the creation of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, and the of ESeC project, and has published widely on the topic of social class in the UK, including Social Class in Modern Britain (with Gordon Marshall, Howard Newby and Carolyn Vogler, 1988); Constructing Classes (with K. O’Reilly (ed.), 1997); A Researcher’s Guide to the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (ed. with David Pevalin, 2003); and The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification: Origins, Development and Use (with David Pevalin and Karen O’Reilly, 2005). He is an Academician of the Social Sciences.

Eric Harrison is Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Comparative Social Surveys at City University London, UK. He was the assistant convener of the ESeC project, but now works in the ESS coordination team. His principal research interests lie in social stratification, social inequality and comparative research methodology.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introducing the ESeC 1. The European Socio-economic Classification: A Prolegomenon 2. From Derivation to Validation: Evidence from the UK and beyond 3. The Application of ESeC to Three Sources of Comparative European Data Part 2: Measuring Social Class 4. Social Class and Employment Relations: Comparisons between the ESeC and EGP class schemas using European data 5. Measuring Social Class: The case of Germany 6. The Comparative Measurement of Supervisory Status 7. Stable and Consistent with the Employment Relations’ Theoretical Background? Does the prototype ESeC show these qualities with French data? Part 3: Using ESeC in Comparative Research on Social Class 8. The Effectiveness of ESeC and EGP in Clustering Occupations: A study of occupational wage growth in Sweden 9. Class and Poverty: Cross-sectional and dynamic analysis of income poverty and lifestyle deprivation 10. Using the ESeC to Describe Socio-economic Inequalities in Health in Europe 11. Unemployment Risks in Four EU countries: A validation study of the ESeC 12. Class of Origin and Educational Inequalities in Contemporary Italy: A validation analysis of the ESeC Part 4: Conclusions 13. ESeC in Retrospect and Prospect: An Epilogue

Editorial Reviews

"...a thorough introduction to the European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC), its theoretical foundation, operationalization, and validation. The editors were principals of the international effort that produced the classification, and the authors were all participants in its development....For anyone intending to use the ESeC data, or of adapting the instrument to different national contexts, it is essential."—Lawrence Raffalovich SUNY Albany, volume 116, number 6 (1 May 2011) of the American Journal of Sociology.

From the Publisher