Inequalities in Contemporary Societies

Nov 27, 16h30 CET – Science Diplomacy and Inequalities (replay here)
By Eric Piaget (Science Diplomacy coordinator for EUTOPIA)
The lecture begins with a general introduction to the rapidly evolving field of science diplomacy , the nexus of science and foreign affairs . It then turns to the inequalities embedded in the field, from geopolitical imbalances and North–South divides to gender gaps, epistemic hierarchies, and barriers to mobility. Linking these issues to this connected learning community , the session invites reflection on how science diplomacy can both reproduce and redress inequities in contemporary societies .

Dec 4, 16h30 CET – Unpacking educational inequality: life and educational paths (replay here)
By Octavia Borș-Georgescu (Romanian Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development, and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI))
Abstract coming soon

Dec 11, 16h30 CET – Platforms and the Algorithmic Politics of Labor (replay here)
By Oana Mateescu (Sociology Department of University of Babes-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca) 
Abstract coming soon

For this 3rd edition of the cross-campus student project, 55 students participated, from UPF and CY, in teams of 1 to 3 members. Each team was asked to do some research on a topic related to inequalities and they had to present their findings with a 5 min video, supported by graphs and charts.
Topics varied from fiscal policies, education, gender inequalities… in diverse European countries (Italy, Germany, Finland…), but also Ghana, Japan, Morocco, Mexico… All videos were compiled in a Padlet board available to all participating students.
Each team was then assigned to watch 2 videos from others projects and prepare questions/comments (public policies, hidden variables…).
We gathered all participating students in a plenary session, which took place online on December 19th 2024. Teams were distributed into 3 breakout rooms, and project videos were played to everyone in the group following by prepared questions/comments and an open discussion on the played topic.

Nov 142024, 16h30-18h30 CET – Financial Inclusion (Watch the replay here)
By Stefan Buciuc (BCR Social Finance IFN SA/ERSTE Group)
Financial education is a tool that empowers individuals and businesses to make informed decisions, secure financial stability, and contribute to the overall economy. In Romania, the importance of financial literacy has grown as individuals and businesses face increasingly complex financial products, or struggle with financial management challenges in a rapidly evolving market.
For individuals, this often leads to difficulties in managing savings, understanding loans, and planning while for businesses, especially startups and SMEs, poor financial knowledge can result in mismanagement of cash flow, underutilization of available financial tools, and missed growth opportunities.
In this presentation, we will explore how BCR Social Finance includes financial education in its support for micro and small businesses, communities and education and what is the impact of our approach on the business environment.

Nov 212024, 16h30-18h30 CET – Health Inequalities (Watch the replay here)
By Marius-Ionuț UNGUREANU (Associate Professor & Chair – Department of Public Health; Director – Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, University of Babes-Bolyai)
Health inequalities remain one of the most pressing challenges to global health, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations and contributing to preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. These disparities are often rooted in the complex interplay of social determinants of health (SDoH)—including socioeconomic status, education, access to healthcare, housing, and social support networks. As the global landscape of health continues to evolve, addressing health inequalities requires a multifaceted approach grounded in public health education, policy reform, and community-based interventions. This presentation explores the role of education in empowering future public health professionals to understand, assess, and mitigate health disparities on a global scale. By integrating SDoH into public health curricula, students are equipped with the critical thinking skills needed to design and implement policies that promote health equity across diverse populations. Key areas of focus will include how public health programs can incorporate lessons on the structural and systemic barriers that perpetuate health inequities, and the importance of fostering cultural competency, social justice, and advocacy in the training of future leaders in the field.

Nov 282024, 16h30-18h30 CET – Gender Violence, Social Movements, and Labor Market Dynamics (Watch the replay here)
By Caroline Coly (Visiting Professor at the University of Barcelona and a Researcher at the IEB)
Since the #MeToo social movement, there has been an increased awareness on violence against women. This class will provide an overview of the recent literature around the impact of #Metoo and the consequences of violence against women in the labor market.

Stefania Marcassa will present a paper in the scientific seminar of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babes-Bolyai University, on April 25th 2024, 13:00-14:00 CET.

Title: “Migration, Social Change, and the Early Decline in the United States Fertility” (based on joint work with Alessandra Fogli)
Abstract: Our study examines the impact of internal migration on the fertility transition in the 19th-century United States. We find evidence that fertility declined at a faster rate in counties experiencing higher rates of outward migration, particularly toward the western frontier. To estimate the causal effect of migration on fertility decline, we leverage the number of acres granted to American war veterans by Congress between 1847 and 1855. Our research explores the propagation of novel family values that influence intergenerational behaviors concerning savings and fertility. Migration, coupled with limited remittance technology, prompted parents to engage in precautionary savings. This phenomenon fostered the decline of the multigenerational family structure rooted in an agricultural economy.

For this year’s edition of the cross-campus student project, we had 48 students UPF, UBB and CY, in teams of 1 to 3 members. Each team was asked to do some research on a topic related to inequalities and they had to present their findings with a 5 min video, supported by graphs and charts.
Topics varied from fiscal policies, education, gender inequalities… in diverse European countries (Spain, Germany, Finland…), but also India, Japan, Morocco… All videos were compiled in a Padlet board available to all participating students.
Each team was then assigned to watch 2 videos from others projects and prepare questions/comments (public policies, hidden variables…).
We gathered all participating students in a plenary session, which took place online on December 21st 2023. Teams were distributed into 3 breakout rooms, and project videos were played to everyone in the group following by prepared questions/comments and an open discussion on the played topic.

[CANCELLED] Nov 232023, 16h30-18h30 CET – Child poverty analysis and its connection to public policy.
By Ariane Aumaitre (KSNET – Knowledge Sharing Network S.L)
The session will discuss key topics such as the assessment of needs of children and households in poverty, the identification of best practices and the elaboration of concrete, quantifiable, and implementable policy proposals. Specific projects on the area will be used as examples, including a quantification of the societal cost of poverty. A Q&A will follow.

Nov 302023, 16h30-18h30 CET – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Inclusion WorkStream
By Marina Mendes Tavares (International Monetary Fund)
This presentation delves into the evolution of the IMF’s workstream on inclusion. It’ll examine the parameters set by the institution to determine the relevancy of inclusion from the IMF’s perspective. Further, we’ll explore the methods the IMF employs to embed inclusion considerations in its surveillance, lending, and research workstream. Lastly, it’ll discuss the hurdles the IMF staff face when prioritizing inclusion. A Q&A will follow.

Dec 72023, 16h30-18h30 CET – Financial well-being and financial literacy inequalities in Romania
By Miruna POCHEA (Department of Finance, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania):
Financial education initiatives rapidly developed across the EU, motivated by various international factors such as financial exclusion, population ageing, increasing debt burden, lack of consumer knowledge or inefficient public good allocation. While these negative factors created an opportunity to multiply financial education programs, they also added an extra-layer of complexity for policy implementation. This study quantifies financial well-being and its determinants, including financial literacy, in Romania. It addresses the primary factors driving low levels of financial inclusion and the interdependence between financial system development and financial education. To understand the determinants of financial well-being in Romania, we conducted a survey using a questionnaire on 1,391 respondents. In general, the results reveal a notable inequality in the distribution of financial well-being among individuals, suggesting the persistence of a poverty trap perpetuated by structural economic deficiencies. In the absence of efficient public policies, the uneducated and low-income individuals do not have access to information being unable to save/ invest and participate in the financial system. A Q&A will follow.

1 – April 25, at 5pm CET – Inequalities and welfare state transformations in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989. 

Lecturer: Cristina Raț, Sociology Department, UBB
Abstract. The social and economic transformations of Central and Eastern European countries after the 1989 fall of self-declared communist regimes brought along deepening social inequalities and new forms of poverty, precarious labour, and marginalization. Which categories of the population became most vulnerable to the negative effects of enlarging inequalities? Which were the prevalent social policy responses to the problem of poverty? How did welfare states evolve in terms of redistributive capacity and inequality reduction after EU integration? The presentation aims to address these questions with the help of comparative data on four CEE countries with different post-socialist trajectories: Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.
Recommended readings:
Adăscăliței, Dragoș (2012). Welfare state development in Central and Eastern Europe: a State of the Art Literature Review. Studies in Transition States and Societies, Vol. 4(2): 59-70.
Aidukaite, Jolanta (2010). Welfare reforms in Central and Eastern Europe: A New Type of Welfare Regime? Economika, Vol. 89(4): 7-24.
Blum, Sonja, J.Kuhlmann, K.Schubert (2020). Handbook of European Welfare Systems. Second edition, revised. London: Routledge. (country chapters on Central and Eastern European countries)

2 – May 23, at 5pm CET – Addressing digital, health, and education inequalities in Latin America through the Erasmus+ SmartNurse project

Lecturer: Jožica Čehovin Zajc & Hajdeja Iglič, University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Speakers:
Annukka Huuskonen, Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Finland (project coordinator)
Jose Ismael Lopez Perez and Mirna Janete Bulnes, Universidad de El-Salvador (UES), El-Salvador
Dra. Aracely Díaz Oviedo, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP), Mexico

A critical theoretical perspective, continuous research, good policy making, and implementation of policies are four important elements in the global fight against inequality. Academics should contribute to these endeavours in their own way, along with decison-makers and policy-makers. One possibility for academics to engage in this process represents  the Erasmus+ program, which under ‘Key Action 2: Cooperation among organisations and institutions’  supports  Capacity building in higher education; projects that enable collaboration and sharing best practices among academics. A good example of how inequalities can be addressed on an international level through the Erasmus+ program is the “SmartNurse – Developing Teachers’ and Nursing Students’ Competencies in Digital Nursing” project. The three-year project, which involves 7 partners from Finland (TAMK), Slovenia (UL), and Latin American higher education institutions from Mexico (UASLP, UAA) and El Salvador (UES, UGB, IEPROES), started in November 2020 and addresses digital, educational, and health inequalities in Latin America with the aim of modernizing the nursing education curriculum using digital tools and active learning methods. The major inequalities in the domains of digitalization, education, and healts are addressed by improving didactic approaches and the use of digital technologies in the education of nursing students, as well as in health promotion, disease prevention and health care for patients with chronic diseases at the primary health care level in Mexico and El Salvador. The Eutopia joint learning course will present an opportunity to make European students of social inequalities familiar with the project’s aims, approaches and methods. The invited guests which include Latin American partners will share with students their first-hand experiences and discuss the challenges of running and implementing such a project.

73 students from CY, UPF and UBB worked in teams of 2-3 members on a topic related to inequalities. Topics varied from education, health, income, fiscal policies… in different countries, such as India, the UK, The US, Israel, Sweden, Venezuela… They synthesized their ideas and results in a short video (around 5 min), supported by graphs and charts. They then all met during a plenary session on Thursday December 15th 2022, where a total of 25 student teams were distributed into 3 groups (breakout rooms). Each team presented their video and one other team was assigned to review according to 3 criteria (interesting outcomes, hidden variables, policies), before opening the floor for discussion. Students could interact and have a critical insight on their peers’ work, but also discover different perspectives of a same topic. 

Dec  82022, 16h30-18h30 CET : Andrea Salvatori (OECD) on labor market inequalities: presentation of Employment Outlook and discussion of the unequal impact of the crisis. Q&A will follow. Andrea will present some of the findings from the recent OECD Employment Outlook on the unequal impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the policy challenges arising from the new cost-of-living crisis.  https://www.oecd.org/employment-outlook/2022/     https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment/oecd-employment-outlook-2022_1bb305a6-en – Watch replay here.

Dec 12022, 16h30-18h30 CET : Francesca Carta (Bank of Italy) on gender inequalities: general presentation of the effects of families policies on firms. Examples of projects carried out at the Bank of Italy. Q&A will follow.
In spite of the large increase in women’s education and employment rates, gender inequalities in the labour market are persistent in all countries in the world. Among European countries, Italy shows one of the largest gaps in labour market participation and employment rates. Filling this gap would contribute to sustained economic growth. The Bank of Italy has run two important projects aimed at explaining the sources of gender inequalities in Italy. In this presentation, I will focus on how fertility decisions and the family dimension affect female labour outcomes. Watch replay here.

Nov 172022, 16h30-18h30 CET : Ilf Bencheikh (J-PAL Europe): general presentation of RCTs and of J-PAL work, in non technical terms. Examples from a sector, for example microfinance. Q&A will follow.  Watch replay here.