Research | WZB

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center conducts research into the basic problems facing modern society. There are seven main research areas and the President´s research group. Each area is devoted to a specific, central theme. The research areas are comprised of a number of smaller groups, namely, the research units, research groups, research professorships, and junior researchers’ groups. For these various research contexts, the WZB brings together scientists from different disciplines to pursue shared research aims.

Research areas

Dynamics of Social Inequalities

Technological progress, demographic change and the advancement of globalisation are transforming the working world. These developments render education, vocational training and further training more…

Technological progress, demographic change and the advancement of globalisation are transforming the working world. These developments render education, vocational training and further training more…

Prof. Dr. Heike Solga

Markets and Choice

Research in this area focuses on economic decision making and its societal consequences. It examines the role of institutions and markets and studies economic learning, development and social evolution…

Research in this area focuses on economic decision making and its societal consequences. It examines the role of institutions and markets and studies economic learning, development and social evolution…

Prof. Dr. Steffen Huck

Prof. Dr. Dorothea Kübler

Digitalization and Societal Transformation

Digitalization represents one of the most pressing challenges of our time. The future of societal and political participation, economic prosperity and good work depend on how we make sense of digital…

Digitalization represents one of the most pressing challenges of our time. The future of societal and political participation, economic prosperity and good work depend on how we make sense of digital…

Prof. Dr. Jeanette Hofmann

International Politics and Law

International organizations like the EU or the International Monetary Fund have increasing influence on sovereign states’ domestic politics. International legal, commercial, and technical norms…

International organizations like the EU or the International Monetary Fund have increasing influence on sovereign states’ domestic politics. International legal, commercial, and technical norms…

Prof. Dr. Michael Zürn

Dynamics of Political Systems

The political and social integration of modern societies are the focus of research in Research Area IV. Problems related to global economic ties, the emergence of international and supranational…

The political and social integration of modern societies are the focus of research in Research Area IV. Problems related to global economic ties, the emergence of international and supranational…

Prof. Daniel Ziblatt, Ph.D.

Migration and Diversity

The research area Migration and Diversity combines sociological, political science and social-psychological perspectives to study how societies cope with immigration and the increased cultural and…

The research area Migration and Diversity combines sociological, political science and social-psychological perspectives to study how societies cope with immigration and the increased cultural and…

Prof. Dr. Ruud Koopmans

President's Research Group

The president’s academic activities are concentrated in education and labor market research, gender studies, as well as scientific and university policy.The editorial staff of the social science…

The president’s academic activities are concentrated in education and labor market research, gender studies, as well as scientific and university policy.The editorial staff of the social science…

Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D.

Political Economy of Development

The political economy of development research area will support interdisciplinary research examining themes such as political accountability, distributive politics, ethnic conflict, and political…

The political economy of development research area will support interdisciplinary research examining themes such as political accountability, distributive politics, ethnic conflict, and political…

Prof. Macartan Humphreys, Ph.D.

Trans-sectoral Research

What happens when sociologists, economists, and political scientists work together on a research question? They build bridges – between disciplines, methods, and theories. Trans-sectoral research…

What happens when sociologists, economists, and political scientists work together on a research question? They build bridges – between disciplines, methods, and theories. Trans-sectoral research…

Editha von Colberg

Babette Hagemann

Completed Research Programs

Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D.