Social Class in Europe : An Introduction to the European Socio-Economic Classification

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 Europeaims 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#xE2;#xAC;"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.

Part 1: Introducing the ESeC Introduction David Rose and Eric Harrison 1. ESeC Described and Explained, David Rose and Eric Harrison 2. The Application of ESeC to Three Sources of Harmonised European Data, Rhys Davies and Peter Elias Part 2: Measuring Social Class 3. Measuring Social Class: the Case of Germany, Walter Mueller, Heike Wirth and Reinhard Pollak 4. Class Schemas and Employment Relations: Comparisons between the ESeC and the EGP class schemas using European data, Robert Erikson, Erik Bihagen and Magnus Nermo 5. Problematic groups within the class structure: Evidence from the UK and beyond, Eric Harrison and David Rose 6. ESeC: A French Perspective, Cecile Brousse, Loup Wolff and Olivier Monso Part 3: Using ESeC in Comparative Research on Social Class 7. Using ESeC to look across and within classes, Eric Harrison and David Rose 8. Social class and the gender wage gap in European countries, Robert Erikson, Erik Bihagen and Magnus Nermo 9. Explaining risks of unemployment and wage income with ESeC, Walter Mueller, Heike Wirth and Reinhard Pollak 10. Class and Poverty: Cross-sectional and Dynamic Analysis of Income Poverty and Lifestyle Deprivation, Dorothy Watson, Chris Whelan and Bertrand Maitre 11. Using the ESEC to describe health inequalities in Europe, Anton E Kunst 12. ESeC classes and unemployment risks, Antonio Schizzerotto, Mario Lucchini and Roberta Barone 13. Class inequalities in educational opportunities in contemporary Italy: a comparison between ESeC and EG class schemes, Antonio Schizzerotto, Carlo Barone, and Roberta Barone Part 4: Conclusions 14. Social Class in Europe, David Rose and Eric Harrison 15. ESeC as a Comparative Class Measure, John H. Goldthorpe