Francesco Laruffa

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I am a social scientist and post-doctoral researcher, currently affiliated at the Sociological Research Institute (SOFI), in Göttingen, Germany, where I work in the European project “Involve: for trustful, participatory and inclusive public policies”. My research focuses on social policy; neoliberal capitalism; ­social-ecological justice and transformative social change. I studied economics, sociology and political science in Turin, Paris, Tübingen and Berlin; obtained the PhD from the University of Geneva and held different research and visiting positions, including at the Humboldt-University of Berlin, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and the University of Oxford.

Research interests

  • Capitalism and neoliberalism
  • Social policy and welfare reform
  • Theories of social justice
  • Theories of democracy
  • Social-ecological transformation
  • Future of work
  • Inequalities and social disadvantage
  • Socioeconomics and political economy
  • Ethical-political responsibility of scholars
  • Participatory-action research

Professional Experience and Education

  • Current position: Research Fellow at the Sociological Research Institute (SOFI), Göttingen.
  • 2023-2024: Research Fellow at the University of Geneva; research stays at the University of Bologna, at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris, and at the University of Milano-Bicocca.
  • 2021-2023: Fellow of the Swiss National Science Foundation with research stays at the Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy of the University of Bremen; the Centre for the Study of Social Justice of the University of Oxford; the International Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD) of the University of Kassel; and the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
  • 2016-2021: Research Fellow at the University of Geneva; visiting scholar at the International Research Centre for Ethical and Social Issues (IFZ) in Salzburg.
  • 2013-2016: research fellow at the Humboldt-University in Berlin.
  • 2012-2013: Master in Public Policy and Social Change at the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Turin
  • 2010-2013: Master in Economics, University of Turin and University of Paris
  • 2006-2010: BSc in Economics, University of Turin

Honours and Awards

  • Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship of the Swiss National Science Foundation for the project “Beyond Inclusion: Rethinking Work and Welfare for a Post-Neoliberal Socio-Ecological Transformation” (2021-2023)
  • Winner of the “Prix Universal” for the best PhD Thesis defended in the year 2020 at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Geneva.
  • Fellowship of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the Gemeinnützige Hertie Stiftung for participating in the programme “Studienkolleg zu Berlin” (2011-2012)