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Charlotta Stern

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charlotta.stern@ratio.se
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Charlotta Stern is the CEO of Ratio Institute (since September 2021).

She is also a Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University, specializing in work and organizations (appointed in 2019). At the university, she teaches the course “Sociology as Science” in the first-year sociology program and serves as co-director of the bachelor’s program Personnel, Work, and Organization (PAO), hosted by the Department of Education.

Stern’s research primarily focuses on the Swedish labor market and is conducted within Ratio’s Labor Market Program, where she is the principal investigator (PI). Her academic work includes studies on the merits of local wage-setting dynamics and the unintended consequences of Sweden’s strict labor market protection.

As part of the research program, she has also published several reports in Swedish, an edited volume, and a co-authored book with Nils Karlson and Eva Uddén Sonnegård.



Related publications

    Book

    Sociology and Classical Liberalism in Dialogue. Freedom is Something We Do Together

    Rojas, F. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2024

    Published in

    Lexington Books.

    Abstract

    The motivation for Sociology and Classical Liberalism in Dialogue: Freedom is Something We Do Together is based on two observations: first, sociology as a field is populated with scholars on the left and second, (few but still) classical liberals and libertarian scholars are found in neighboring social science fields, such as economics, political science, and political philosophy. Can scholarship benefit if sociology and classical liberal ideas are in dialogue? To answer the question, the book gathers sociologists, criminologists, demographers, and political scientists that care about classical liberal ideas, or are willing to engage their sociological thinking with classical liberal ideas. Not all authors would identify themselves as classical liberals. These contributors discuss sociological topics through the lens of classical liberalism, asking how issues such as class, gender, or race relations can be viewed with a different perspective. Chapters also delve into the intersection of sociology and classical liberalism, exploring where viewpoints conflict and where they align.

    Article (with peer review)

    Managers on balancing employment protection and what’s good for the company: Intended and unintended consequences of a semi-coercive institution

    Stern, C., & Weidenstedt, L.

    Publication year

    2022

    Published in

    Economic and Industrial Democracy.

    Abstract

    Sweden’s institutionalized employment protection legislation, ‘LAS’, is interesting theoretically because parts of it are semi-coercive. The semi-coerciveness makes it possible for firms and unions under collective agreements to negotiate departures from the law. Thus, the law is more flexible than the legal text suggests. The present study explores intended and unintended consequences of LAS as experienced by managers of smaller manufacturing companies. The results suggest that managers support the idea of employment protection in principle but face a difficult balancing act in dealing with LAS. From their point of view, the legislation’s institutional legitimacy is low, producing local cultures of hypocrisy and pretense. The article gives insights into how institutions aimed at specific, intended behavior sometimes end up producing unintended consequences fostering the opposite.

    The article in total can be read here.

    Article (with peer review)

    Sex differences and occupational choice. Theorizing for policy informed by behavioral science.

    Stern, C., & Madison, G.

    Publication year

    2022

    Published in

    Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 202, 694-702.

    Abstract

    Occupations are segregated with respect to sex, even in modern, egalitarian societies. There are strong pressures to eliminate segregation and therefore strong reasons to correctly theorize why segregation persists. The dominant view underpinning most public policies is essentially that environmental factors nudge women and men into different occupational paths. Nudging, however, ignores research suggesting that psychological traits that influence occupational choice differs between women and men, on average.

    Some of the most well-documented and persistent average sex differences between men and women suggest that the taken-for-granted assumption that an egalitarian society would exhibit a more or less equal distribution of men and women across the occupational landscape may be mistaken. Rather, models of occupational choice informed by individual differences in preferences, broadly understood, would help us better explain how men and women behave in the labor market. Differences in occupational preferences will affect choices. Therefore, differences in proportions of women and men across professions may be in line with an egalitarian society and the well-being and best interest of both men and women in society.

    The article can be read here.

    Article (without peer review)

    How the Swedish Labor Market Really Works

    Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2022

    Published in

    National review.

    Abstract

    Stern, C. (2022). How the Swedish Labor Market Really Works. National review. https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/07/how-the-swedish-labor-market-really-works/

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 357: Managing Work from Anywhere: Six Points to Consider for HR Professionals

    Allstrin, S., Grafström, J., Stern, C. & Weidenstedt, L.
    Download

    Publication year

    2022

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper.

    Abstract

    Purpose: The aim of this study is to assist human resource practitioners, leaders, and managers in their decision-making processes regarding the future of remote work by contributing with insights into, and synthesis of, existing research regarding working from home and working from anywhere.
    Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a general review of the international literature in the fields of remote work, work from home, and work from anywhere with the aim to inductively discern themes research hitherto has dealt with.
    Findings: We identified three larger themes: (1) productivity and efficiency, (2) remote leadership, and (3) work environment and work-life balance, each incorporating subthemes that contribute to a greater understanding of relevant topics in the context of remote work. In order to provide relevant information regarding the research front and guidance towards worthwhile considerations for HR professionals, leaders, and managers, we summarize our results in six concise points, each suggesting relevant questions to assess in relation to the future of remote work.
    Originality: Companies will be forced to determine how to approach the post-Covid era and establish a new status quo regarding the future of office work that, ideally, will be mutually beneficial for employers and employees—whether it incorporates office, remote, or hybrid work. To the best of our knowledge a general review of the literature on remote work with specific, evidence-based, points to consider for HR professionals has not yet been undertaken.

    Article (with peer review)

    Managers on balancing employment protection and what’s good for the company: Intended and unintended consequences of a semi-coercive institution

    Stern, C. & Weidenstedt, L.

    Publication year

    2021

    Published in

    Economic and Industrial Democracy

    Abstract

    Sweden’s institutionalized employment protection legislation, ‘LAS’, is interesting theoretically because parts of it are semi-coercive. The semi-coerciveness makes it possible for firms and unions under collective agreements to negotiate departures from the law. Thus, the law is more flexible than the legal text suggests. The present study explores intended and unintended consequences of LAS as experienced by managers of smaller manufacturing companies. The results suggest that managers support the idea of employment protection in principle but face a difficult balancing act in dealing with LAS. From their point of view, the legislation’s institutional legitimacy is low, producing local cultures of hypocrisy and pretense. The article gives insights into how institutions aimed at specific, intended behavior sometimes end up producing unintended consequences fostering the opposite.

    Reports

    Medarbetaravtal, personalkostnader och produktivitet

    Björklund, M. & Stern, C.
    Download

    Publication year

    2020

    Published in

    -

    Abstract

    Sammanfattning:
    Medarbetaravtal är en ovanlig kollektivavtalsform där särskilda krav ställs på samarbete mellan tjänstemannafacken och arbetarfacken eftersom avtalet tecknas gemensamt. Det saknas idag kunskap om effekterna av kollektivavtal generellt och medarbetaravtal i synnerhet. Parterna inom pappers- och massaindustrin tecknade 1996 medarbetaravtal vilket möjliggör en jämförelse på branschnivå. Med hjälp av syntetiska kontrollgrupper undersöker vi hur arbetskraftskostnad och produktivitet påverkas av den unika kollektivavtalslösningen. I rapporten kommer vi fram till att det i dagsläget är svårt att visa på några tydliga effekter vilket inte är helt förvånande med tanke på hur medarbetaravtalen som finns är utformade. Mer kunskap kring de ekonomiska effekterna av olika typer av kollektivavtal är en förutsättning för informerad diskussion kring framtidens kollektivavtal. Det krävs ytterligare studier i de fall ett mer renodlat medarbetaravtal skulle tecknas i framtiden.

    Working paper

    Ratio Working Paper No. 339: Broken commitments and unfulfilled expectations: An explorative study of Swedish Labor Court cases

    Stern, C. & Weidenstedt, L.
    Download

    Publication year

    2020

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper

    Abstract

    Little is known about what lies behind serious relational conflicts in the workplace. In this paper, we analyze conflicts emanating from perceptions of broken commitments and unfulfilled expectations as they appear in the Swedish Labor Court. Sweden is a highly regulated and formalized labor market, with high levels of unionization and collective agreement coverage. Yet in a social setting ripe with formal rules and regulation such as this, what role do informal promises and expectations have? The empirical material for this study consists of a sub-set of two years of Labor Court decisions dealing with situations where mutual consent of what has been agreed upon or what is to be expected from each other has broken down. We describe who, when and what causes workplace conflicts and provide examples of typical situations where relations break down to such an extent that the cases are taken to court. The results show some variation between employers and employees, men and women, as well as insiders and outsiders of the Swedish labor market model. Our exploration into court cases in a highly regulated and formalized labor market suggests that regardless of the amount of regulations, people build relationships that go beyond formal rules. And when they interpret and judge their social relations, they will sometimes do so differently – and sometimes the differences will cause severe conflicts. Even in Sweden.

    Article (with peer review)

    Wage setting as a discovery process. Why local is superior to central even if one is skeptical towards performance-based pay

    Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2023

    Published in

    Human Resource Development International

    Abstract

    Stern, C. (2023) Wage setting as a discovery process. Why local is superior to central even if one is skeptical towards performance-based pay. Human Resource Development International, DOI: 10.1080/13678868.2020.1802162

    Working paper

    Ratio Working Paper No. 337 Wage Setting as a Discovery Process

    Stern, C.
    Download

    Publication year

    2020

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper

    Abstract

    Local wage setting is when companies in their collective agreements with unions formulate local rules for determining wage increase criteria, in contrast to central wage setting where the industry agreement specify the rules for all companies covered. HR-managers should promote local wage practices more than they currently do. I identify reasons behind HR-managers (and unions) skepticism towards local wage practices and go on to argue that in the end a local wage practice will be better organizational-practice because it will develop organization specific knowledge and this will promote discovery and develop organizational integrity. Hence, HR-managers should embrace local wage practices because it is good for the organization, although it means more work and higher demands on the managers themselves. The social outcome of local wage practices is that firm-specific explorations in HR-management schemes is HR-intrapreneurship which in combination with competition is likely to foster inter-organizational learning and stronger firms.

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 334 Stockholm City’s Elderly Care and Covid19: Interview with Barbro Karlsson

    Stern, L. & Klein, D. B.
    Download

    Publication year

    2020

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper

    Abstract

    Upwards of 70 percent of the Covid19 death toll in Sweden has been people in elderly care services (as of mid-May 2020). We summarize the Covid19 tragedy in elderly care in Sweden, particularly in the City of Stockholm. We explain the institutional structure of elderly care administration and service provision. Those who died of Covid19 in Stockholm’s nursing homes had a life-remaining median somewhere in the range of 5 to 9 months. Having contextualized the Covid19 problem in City of Stockholm, we present an interview of Barbro Karlsson, who works at the administrative heart of the Stockholm elderly care system. Her institutional knowledge and sentiment offer great insight into the concrete problems and challenges. There are really two sides to the elderly care Covid19 challenge: The vulnerability and frailty of those in nursing homes and the problem of nosocomial infection—that is, infection caused by contact with others involved in the elderly care experience. The problem calls for targeted solutions by those close to the vulnerable individuals.

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 333: Balancing employment protection and what’s good for the company

    Stern, C. & Weidenstedt, L.
    Download

    Publication year

    2020

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper

    Abstract

    Like most developed countries, Sweden has institutionalized employment protection legislation, called LAS. LAS is interesting theoretically because parts of it are semi-coercive. The semi-coerciveness makes it possible for firms and unions under collective agreements to negotiate departures from the law, for instance regarding seniority rules and terminations due to employees’ fit and/or misconduct. In this sense, the law is more flexible than the legal text suggests. The present study explores how the semi-coercive institution of employment protection is perceived and implemented by managers of smaller manufacturing companies. The results suggest that managers support the idea of employment protection rules in principle but face a difficult balancing act in dealing with LAS. Thus, the institutional legitimacy of the law is low. LAS ends up producing local cultures of hypocrisy and pretense. The paper gives insights into how institutions aimed at producing good moral behavior sometimes end up producing the opposite.

    Book

    En dynamisk arbetsmarknad

    Stern, L.

    Publication year

    2019

    Published in

    Stockholm: Dialogos

    Abstract

    Hur påverkas svensk arbetsmarknad av teknikutveckling, tjänstefiering, entreprenörskap och immigration? Hur väl förmår de institutionella villkoren i form av lagar, regler och skatter att hänga med?

    Detta är temat för forskningsantologin En dynamisk arbetsmarknad.

    En väl fungerande arbetsmarknad förutsätter ändamålsenliga villkor för medarbetare och arbetsgivare i syfte att uppmuntra utveckling, jobbskapande och tillväxt. I en föränderlig värld behöver dessa villkor utvecklas och förbättras.

    Femton forskare i ekonomisk historia, företagsekonomi, nationalekonomi, sociologi och statsvetenskap analyserar de viktigaste omvärldsförändringarna och de lagar, regler och skatter som påverkar förutsättningarna på arbetsmarknaden. Studierna bygger på empiriska undersökningar och forskningssammanställningar, och syftet är att bidra till en välgrundad diskussion om framtiden för svensk arbetsmarknad.

    Reports

    Framtidens kollektivavtal? Medarbetaravtal ur parternas perspektiv

    Stern, C. & Paulsson, E.
    Download

    Publication year

    2019

    Published in

    Arbetsmarknadsprogrammet

    Abstract

    I denna intervjustudie om arbetsmarknadens parters erfarenheter av medarbetaravtal undersöks hur parterna upplever att medarbetaravtal fungerar samt om avtalsformen är bättre lämpad för framtidens utmaningar än traditionella kollektivavtal. Förändringar på arbetsmarknaden sätter den svenska kollektivavtalsmodellen på prov. Kollektivavtalens uppdelning mellan ”arbetare” och ”tjänstemän”, liksom uppdelningen mellan ”tjänstemän” och ”akademiker” kan tänkas upprätthålla murar där gränser i praktiken allt oftare överskrids. I denna kontext är medarbetaravtal en innovation som utmanar befintliga spelregler. Den här rapporten syftar till att studera hur en sådan innovation fungerar i praktiken. Den underliggande frågan är huruvida historiska spår är så upptrampade att de hindrar kollektivavtalens utveckling. Vår intervjuundersökning visar att medarbetaravtal är en ovanlig avtalsform i Sverige, och parternas berättelser om avtalen tyder på att medarbetaravtal fungerar relativt väl när det väl är på plats. I det stora hela råder samsyn mellan parterna om fördelarna respektive utmaningarna med gemensamma avtal. Det råder också samsyn kring framtiden som man inte tror kommer att präglas av medarbetaravtal.

    Reports

    Anställningsskyddets avsedda och oavsedda konsekvenser

    Stern, L., Weidenstedt, L. & Sideras, G.
    Download

    Publication year

    2018

    Published in

    Arbetsmarknadsprogrammet

    Abstract

    Lagen om anställningsskydd är omdebatterad och skapar friktioner på svensk arbetsmarknad. Å ena sidan finns arbetsgivare som vill ha flexibla företag och rätten att leda och fördela arbetet för att främja verksamheten. Å andra sidan finns arbetstagare som vill ha trygga anställningar och rätt till en icke-godtycklig behandling. På aggregerad nivå får lagstiftningens avsedda och oavsedda konsekvenser förhållandevis mycket utrymme i debatterna såväl som inom forskningen, där studier exempelvis visar att ett strikt anställningsskydd hämmar företagens produktivitet. Mer sällan ställs frågan hur lagstiftningen tillämpas och upplevs fungera lokalt och i praktiken, det vill säga ute på företagen.

    Den här studien syftar till att bidra med sådan konkret och lokal kunskap i syfte att undersöka avsedda och oavsedda konsekvenser av anställningsskyddets utformande i företagens dagliga verksamhet. Frågan undersöks genom tolv intervjuer med företagsledare i medelstora tillverkande företag med erfarenhet av att avsluta anställningar. Företagsledarna fick berätta om vad som hände, hur och när processen initierades, och när – men också hur – de upplevde att processen fungerade.

    Resultaten visar att företagsledarna principiellt har en positiv inställning till anställningsskydd, men upplever att lagstiftningen inte fungerar väl i praktiken. Exempelvis står turordningsreglerna i konflikt med företagsledningens fokus på att vid arbetsbrist behålla rätt kompetens. Vidare menar de att avslut av anställningar på grund av personliga skäl är näst intill omöjligt.

    Book chapter

    Does Political Ideology Hinder Insights on Gender and Labor Markets?

    Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2017

    Published in

    New York NY: Psychology Press Routledge

    Abstract

    Sociology is a field where a large majority of professors lean left. The left-leaning ideology is visible in studies of gender differences in labor markets. In such studies, a left-feminist ideology of equality is taken to be self-evident. Defining equality to equate to slim-outcome difference, however, pre-destines all differences to be seen as outcomes of culturally defined social constructions and discrimination. In this chapter it is hypothesized that this has produced tabooed topics in the field. One such taboo is the acknowledging of differences between men and women. Such differences challenge the left-feminism’s notion of equality in terms of slim-outcome-difference. Research on evolution and preferences is downplayed in favor of cultural explanations. Cultural explanations interpret differences between men and women in labor market behavior as constructed, as largely driven by gender stereotypes and discrimination. The notion that differences can stem from biology or from the choices made by individuals pursuing a lifestyle different than those prescribed by gender researchers is seldom entertained. I hypothesize that the situation stems from gender sociology being dominated by left-feminist ideology.
    Related content: Working paper No. 275

    Book

    Framtidens arbetsmarknad och den svenska modellens utmaningar

    Karlson, N, Stern L
    Download

    Publication year

    2017

    Published in

    Arbetsmarknadsprogrammet

    Abstract

    En rad omvärldsförändringar är på väg att förändra arbetsmarknaden. Digitalisering, globalisering, demografiska förändringar och värderingsförskjutningar leder till ett nytt arbetsliv. Kompetensbehov, arbetsorganisation, anställningsförhållanden, branscher och mycket annat kommer att förändras. Behovet av flexibilitet ökar. Den svenska arbetsmarknadsmodellens aktörer står därmed vid något av ett vägskäl. Ska man anta utmaningarna som utvecklingen driver på och försöka utveckla modellen eller ska man värna status quo och nöja sig med att upprätthålla och underhålla en delvis undermåligt fungerande modell?

    Article (with peer review)

    Elite mobility among college graduated men in Sweden: Skills, personality and family ties

    Bihagen, E., Nermo, M., Stern; C., & Åberg, Y.

    Publication year

    2017

    Published in

    Acta Sociologica

    Abstract

    Using Swedish registry data, we study the chances of mobility into the Swedish labour market elite for men who graduated in the years 1985−2005. The elite is defined as top earners within mid- and large sized firms and within the public sector organisations (henceforth, we use organisation for both firms and public organisations). Using discrete time event history models, we study the incidence of elite entry in terms of external recruitment and internal promotion. The choice of field of study and of college or university are important, as are personality and, to a limited extent, cognitive ability. What is most striking is that having kin in elite positions increases the chance of elite entry in general, and having parents in top positions in the same organisation increases the likelihood of internal promotion. In sum, elite entry among college-educated males is associated with a diversity of factors, suggesting that complex explanations for labour market success should be considered, where skills, personality, and family ties all seem to matter.

    Keywords: Elite transitions, mobility, personality, cognitive ability, kinship ties, field of study

    Article (without peer review)

    Intelligence, competitive altruism, and “clever silliness” may underlie bias in academe

    Madison, G., Dutton, E., & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2017

    Published in

    Behavioral and Brain Sciences

    Abstract

    Why is social bias and its depressing effects on low-status or low-performing groups exaggerated? We show that the higher intelligence of academics has at best a very weak effect on reducing their bias, facilitates superficially justifying their biases, and may make them better at understanding the benefits of social conformity in general and competitive altruism specifically. We foresee a surge in research examining these mechanisms and recommend, meanwhile, reviving and better observing scientific ideals.

    Working paper

    Working paper No. 275: Does political ideology hinder insights on gender and labor markets?

    Sterc, C.
    Download

    Publication year

    2016

    Published in

    Ratio Working Paper

    Abstract

    Sociology is a field where a large majority of professors lean left. The left-leaning ideology is visible in studies of gender differences in labor markets. In such studies, a left-feminist ideology of equality is taken to be self-evident. Defining equality to equate to slim-outcome difference, however, pre-destines all differences to be seen as outcomes of culturally defined social constructions and discrimination. In this chapter it is hypothesized that this has produced tabooed topics in the field. One such taboo is the acknowledging of differences between men and women. Such differences challenge the left-feminism’s notion of equality in terms of slim-outcome-difference. Research on evolution and preferences is downplayed in favor of cultural explanations. Cultural explanations interpret differences between men and women in labor market behavior as constructed, as largely driven by gender stereotypes and discrimination. The notion that differences can stem from biology or from the choices made by individuals pursuing a lifestyle different than those prescribed by gender researchers is seldom entertained. I hypothesize that the situation stems from gender sociology being dominated by left-feminist ideology.

    Book chapter

    P.C. Jersild. Organisationskritik och professionssocialisering

    Stern, L.

    Publication year

    2015

    Published in

    Sociologi genom litteratur. Skönlitteraturens möjligheter och samhällsvetenskapens begränsningar

    Abstract

    Lotta Stern medverkar i antologin Sociologi genom litteratur med ett kapitel om författaren och läkaren Per Christian Jersilds roman Babels hus. Stern använder exempel ur Babels hus för att närma sig och tillgängliggöra sociologisk teori kring organisationskritik och socialisation. Kapitlet centrerar kring P.C. Jerslids berättelse om storsjukhuset och belyser hur skönlitteraturen kan användas för att konkretisera sociologisk teori och dess koppling till det samtida samhälls- och arbetsklimatet.

    ”Sociologi genom litteratur […] är en hyllning till skönlitteraturens rikedom och till den sociologiska fantasin [och] tjänar både som en reflektion över samhällsvetenskapens egenart och som en inbjudan till samhällsvetare att använda skönlitteraturen som ett fönster mot den sociala verkligheten.”

    Article (with peer review)

    Political diversity will improve social psychological science

    Duarte, J. L., Crawford, J. T., Stern, C., Haidt, J., Jussim, L. & Tetlock, P. E.

    Publication year

    2015

    Published in

    Behavioral and Brain Sciences

    Abstract

    Psychologists have demonstrated the value of diversity – particularly diversity of viewpoints – for enhancing creativity, discovery, and problem solving. But one key type of viewpoint diversity is lacking in academic psychology in general and social psychology in particular: political diversity. This article reviews the available evidence and finds support for four claims: (1) Academic psychology once had considerable political diversity, but has lost nearly all of it in the last 50 years. (2) This lack of political diversity can undermine the validity of social psychological science via mechanisms such as the embedding of liberal values into research questions and methods, steering researchers away from important but politically unpalatable research topics, and producing conclusions that mischaracterize liberals and conservatives alike. (3) Increased political diversity would improve social psychological science by reducing the impact of bias mechanisms such as confirmation bias, and by empowering dissenting minorities to improve the quality of the majority’s thinking. (4) The underrepresentation of non-liberals in social psychology is most likely due to a combination of self-selection, hostile climate, and discrimination. We close with recommendations for increasing political diversity in social psychology.

    Book

    Lönebildning i verkligheten

    Karlson, N., Lindberg, H. M., Stern, L., Lundqvist, T. & Larsson, A.-S.
    Download

    Publication year

    2014

    Published in

    -

    Abstract

    Hur sätts lönerna i olika branscher och företag? Hur styrande är kollektivavtalen? Vilken effekt har centraliseringsgraden, märket och individgarantierna? Används lönesättning som strategiskt verktyg? Vilka konsekvenser har detta för företagens utvecklingskraft och de anställdas löneutveckling?

    I Lönebildning i verkligheten redovisas ny forskning om kollektivavtalens effekter på företagens lönesättning och utvecklingskraft, ett område där det tidigare saknats empiriska studier. Undersökningen baseras dels på kvalitativa fallstudier av 27 företag i olika storlekar och branscher, dels på en stor kvantitativ studie, baserad på unika data, av företag i privat sektor i Sverige. En viktig slutsats är att det finns en stor utvecklingspotential vad gäller lagstiftning, avtalskonstruktioner och olika aktörers synsätt. Mycket talar för att Sverige, svenska företag och deras anställda skulle tjäna på en modernisering av dagens modell för lönebildning och lönesättning.

    Boken vänder sig till alla som arbetar med, eller vill arbeta med lönesättning och löneförhandlingar – chefer, HR-experter, fackliga representanter och arbetsgivare, men även studenter, lärare och forskare.

    Reports

    Rekrytering i svenska företag ‐ Rätt kompetens, verktyg, tid, stöd och strategier för att finna kompetensen?

    Fergin, E., Stern, C. & Wennberg, K.
    Download

    Publication year

    2013

    Published in

    -

    Abstract

    Rapporten behandlar stora och medelstora svenska företags syn på kompetensförsörjning samt hur dessa arbetar med rekrytering och urval. En majoritet av de studier som gjorts kring matchning på arbetsmarknaden och kompetensförsörjning angriper frågan från utbudssidan, dvs. vad de arbetssökande saknar. Denna studie analyserar istället efterfrågesidan, dvs. företagens strategier för kompetensförsörjning – finns det någonting i företagens sätt att arbeta som kan försvåra eller underlätta kompetensförsörjningen? Studien baseras på en enkät som skickades ut till ett stort antal Vd:ar, HR-chefer och andra med ansvar för kompetensförsörjning på stora och medelstora svenska företag.

    Analysen visar att många rekryteringar går fel. Med rätt verktyg, rimliga förväntningar och en större möjlighet att jobba med utveckling av personal, skulle det gå lättare att hitta framtida medarbetare.

    Article (without peer review)

    Var står svenska samhällsvetare politiskt?

    Berggren, N., Jordahl, H. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2011

    Published in

    Ekonomisk Debatt

    Abstract

    I denna artikel redovisas resultat från en enkät om svenska samhällsvetares politiska uppfattningar. Tydliga skillnader återfinns mellan olika ämnen. Medan sympatier för Alliansen dominerar bland företagsekonomer, nationalekonomer och jurister, är sociologer och genusvetare i hög grad vänsterorienterade. Ekonomhistoriker och statsvetare befinner sig i mitten, med viss vänsterinriktning. Största parti bland företagsekonomer, nationalekonomer, jurister och ekonomhistoriker är Folkpartiet; bland statsvetare är det Socialdemokraterna, bland sociologer Vänsterpartiet och bland genusvetare Feministiskt initiativ. I ekonomiska frågor framkommer ett liknande mönster: företagsekonomer, nationalekonomer och jurister är mer benägna att stödja förändringar i liberaliserande riktning, men reformviljan är svag överlag.

    Article (with peer review)

    The Political Opinions of Swedish Social Scientists

    Berggren, N., Jordahl, H. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2009

    Published in

    Finnish Economic Papers

    Abstract

    We study the political opinions of Swedish social scientists in seven disciplines. A survey was sent to 4,301 academics at 25 colleges and universities, which makes the coverage of the disciplines included more or less comprehensive. When it comes to party sympathies there are 1.3 academics on the right for each academic on the left – a sharp contrast to the situation in the United States, where Democrats greatly dominate the social sciences. The corresponding ratio for Swedish citizens in general is 1.1. The most left-leaning disciplines are sociology and gender studies, the most right-leaning ones are business administration, economics, and law, with political science and economic history somewhere in between. The differences between the disciplines are smaller in Sweden than in the more polarized U.S. We also asked 14 policy questions. The replies largely confirm the pattern of a left-right divide – but overall the desire to change the status quo is tepid.

    Related content: Working Paper No. 112

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 112. The Political Opinions of Swedish Social Scientists

    Berggren, N., Jordahl, H. & Stern, C.
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    Publication year

    2007

    Published in

    The Political Opinions of Swedish Social Scientists

    Abstract

    We study the political opinions of Swedish social scientists in seven disciplines. A survey was sent to 4,301 academics at 25 colleges and universities, which makes the coverage of the disciplines included more or less comprehensive. When it comes to party sympathies there are 1.3 academics on the right for each academic on the left—a sharp contrast to the situation in the United States, where Democrats greatly dominate the social sciences. The corresponding ratio for Swedish citizens in general is 1.1. The most left-leaning disciplines are sociology and gender studies, the most right-leaning ones are business administration, economics, and law, with political science and economic history somewhere in between. The differences between the disciplines are smaller in Sweden than in the more polarized U.S. We also asked 14 policy questions. The replies largely confirm the pattern of a left-right divide – but overall the desire to change the status quo is tepid.

    Related content: The Political Opinions of Swedish Social Scientists

    Article (with peer review)

    Is There a Free-Market Economist in the House?

    Klein, D. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2007

    Published in

    American Journal of Economics and Sociology

    Abstract

    People often suppose or imply that free-market economists constitute a significant portion of all economists. We surveyed American Economic Association members and asked their views on 18 specific forms of government activism. We find that about 8 percent of AEA members can be considered supporters of free-market principles, and that less than 3 percent may be called strong supporters. The data are broken down by voting behavior (Democratic or Republican). Even the average Republican AEA member is “middle-of-the-road,” not free-market. We offer several possible explanations of the apparent difference between actual and attributed views.

    Article (with peer review)

    Sociology and Classical Liberalism

    Klein, D.B. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2006

    Published in

    The Independent Review

    Abstract

    We advocate the development of a classical-liberal character in sociology. Even social democrats should recognize classical liberalism as a venerable tradition. They should recognize that its antistatist sensibilities remain a vibrant and valuable part of the general political culture. To say that classical liberalism is underrepresented in sociology would be a vast understatement. Forbidden might be more fitting. The lack of classical liberalism, in our view, has worked to the detriment of sociology and the public purposes that sociology presumably should be fulfilling. First, we relate recent controversies within the sociology profession to show that some sociologists are very critical of the profession’s ideological character. Second, we summarize the results of our survey of ASA members, providing hard data that shows the almost complete absence of classical liberals in the organization. Third, we sketch a few substantive ideas to indicate the promise
    of classical-liberal sociology.

    Related content: Working Paper No. 81

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 81. Sociology and Classical Liberalism

    Klein, D. & Stern, C.
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    Publication year

    2005

    Published in

    Sociology and Classical Liberalism

    Abstract

    We advocate the development of a classical-liberal character within professional sociology. The American Sociological Association (ASA) is taken as representative of professional sociology in the United States. We review the ASA’s activities and organizational statements, to show the association’s leftist character. Internal criticism is often very uneasy about leftist domination of the field. We present survey results establishing that, in voting and in policy views, the ASA membership is mostly left-wing and devoid of classical liberalism. We sketch some ideas showing that sociology needs classical liberalism, and classical liberalism needs sociology.

    Related content: Sociology and Classical Liberalism

    Article (with peer review)

    Professors and Their Politics: The Policy Views of Social Scientists

    Klein, D.B. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2005

    Published in

    Critical Review

    Abstract

    Academic social scientists overwhelmingly vote Democratic, and the Democratic hegemony has increased significantly since 1970. Moreover, the policy preferences of a large sample of the members of the scholarly associations in anthropology, economics, history, legal and political philosophy, political sci- ence, and sociology generally bear out conjectures about the correspondence of partisan identification with left/right ideal types; although across the board, both Democratic and Republican academics favor government action more than the ideal types might suggest. Variations in policy views among Democrats is smaller than among Republicans. Ideological diversity (as judged not only by voting behavior, but by policy views) is by far the greatest within economics. Social scientists who deviate from left-wing views are as likely to be libertarian as conservative.

    Article (with peer review)

    Political Diversity in Six Disciplines

    Klein, D.B. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2005

    Published in

    Academic Questions, Working Paper No. 53

    Abstract

    The inclination toward the political left in the American academy has existed as a presumption for decades. Recently, faculty and students, who found themselves marginalized by reason of the party they support or their religious convictions, have been advancing the cause of intellectual diversity. Their appeal would seem compelling, given the mission of higher education, but it has met opposition in an institution where diversity is defined as sex and race preferences that outweigh alternate considerations in admissions, hiring, and other areas. Until recently, one impediment to their push for intellectual diversity has been the lack of an adequately rigorous body of research to identify and quantify the presumed political imbalance to which they were responding. Daniel Klein et al. have now provided that research base in two studies of faculty affiliation. The first, a nationwide survey of six fields in the humanities, and the second, of party registration of faculty at two schools in California, reveal that an overwhelming and monolithic majority of professors support the Democratic Party. Republicans, conservatives, and libertarians constitute a negligible minority. Klein’s revelations received broad media coverage after an 18 November 2004 New York Times article (A23) directed readers to the data and conclusions via the NAS web site at www.nas.org. The two studies appear formally in print below for the first time.

    Related content: Working Paper No. 53

    Article (with peer review)

    Democrats and Republicans in Anthropology and Sociology: How Do They Differ on Public Policy Issues

    Klein, D.B. & Stern, C.

    Publication year

    2005

    Published in

    The American Sociologist

    Abstract

    Within the fields of anthropology and sociology, how do Democrats and Republicans compare in their opinions on issues of economic regulation, personal choice, and the role of government? Using data from a survey of U.S. members of the American Anthropological Association and the American Sociological Association—with 701 respondents—we find that the differences generally fit the “liberal” and “conservative” stereotypes. Democrats are more permissive on drugs, prostitution, and immigration, while Republicans are more permissive on economic activity. The Democrats are more opposed to military action. However, our survey shows that both Democrats and Republicans are generally supportive or neutral on government activism. Our survey enables a kind of quantification of the differences between the Democrats and Republicans in the two academic fields examined.

    Working paper

    Working Paper No. 53. How Politically Diverse Are the Social Sciences and Humanities? Survey Evidence from Six Fields

    Klein, D. & Stern, C.
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    Publication year

    2004

    Published in

    Political Diversity in Six Disciplines

    Abstract

    In Spring 2003, a large-scale survey of American academics was conducted using academic association membership lists from six fields: Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy (political and legal), Political Science, and Sociology. This paper focuses on one question: To which political party have the candidates you’ve voted for in the past ten years mostly belonged? The question was answered by 96.4 percent of academic respondents. The results show that the faculty is heavily skewed towards voting Democratic. The most lopsided fields surveyed are Anthropology with a D to R ratio of 30.2 to 1, and Sociology with 28.0 to 1. The least lopsided is Economics with 3.0 to 1. After Economics, the least lopsided is Political Science with 6.7 to 1. The average of the six ratios by field is about 15 to 1. Our analysis and related research suggest that for the the social sciences and humanities overall, a “one-big-pool” ratio of 7 to 1 is a safe lower-bound estimate, and 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 are reasonable point estimates. Thus, the social sciences and humanities are dominated by Democrats. There is little ideological diversity. We discuss Stephen Balch’s “property rights” proposal to help remedy the situation.

    Related content: Political Diversity in Six Disciplines