Inequality is often misperceived in the German population. Using survey data, a new paper by the University of Konstanz in cooperation with Das Progressive Zentrum presents evidence for this claim. While inequality is indeed seen as a problem, its extent is underestimated in important aspects. Yet, large parts of the population support a more egalitarian society. This gives rise to the potential for a political agenda that strengthens progressive and egalitarian policies.

Innocracy aimed to bring the future back to the centre of political discourse. Speakers included Deborah Feldman, Amitav Ghosh and many more.

With these surveys, the University of Konstanz and Das Progressive Zentrum are contributing to a better understanding of the social and political consequences of the Corona crisis. In the studies, the researchers analyze the topics of solidarity with European neighbors, working from home, trust in politics, crisis management and the health care system.

Trust matters more than self-interest: Our survey conducted among roughly 4,800 participants in April and May 2020 shows that the discussion about easing restrictions is not so much about the varying degrees to which individuals are affected, but rather about the degree of trust in public institutions in general.

Most employees say that they work longer and more productively at home than in the office, yet some also suffer from loneliness and isolation. Nevertheless, a large proportion (56 percent) does not wish to return to full-time attendance; a majority of those surveyed would prefer to work from home two to three days a week. On the question of a legal right to mobile work, the population is divided. This is the result of a representative study by the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” at the University of Konstanz, published in cooperation with the think tank Das Progressive Zentrum.

At the event “Measuring Tomorrow’s Work and Economy” Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with Policy Network presented the insights of a common study on the opportunities and challenges posed by new technology in the world of work. The study takes a comparative approach to investigate recent trends and policy approaches in the UK, France, and Germany. The following opinion piece reflects on the content and subsequent discussion of the issues at hand.

Am Mittwoch Abend des 16. Oktober 2019 trafen führende Köpfe aus Wissenschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft aufeinander um über die Herausforderungen der Zukunft der Arbeit zu diskutieren.

The study provokes a socio-political debate on the future of work. Based on interviews with 50 experts, the authors identify four core-challenges, give ten policy recommendations and sketch a concept for an inclusive digital transformation.

How can technological advancement be shaped in a more socially compatible way? This and many more pressing questions will be addressed at this year’s Revision Summit on 19-20 November in Berlin. Das Progressive Zentrum is a partner of the event.

A total of 16 outstanding progressive thinkers and practitioners will add to the intellectual life within the think-tank in our three programme areas “International Relations”, “Future of Democracy” and “Structural Change”, and elaborate on new thematic threads such as “Digital Democracy”, “Corporate Citizenship” and “Democratic Debate Culture”.

How can progressive public policy shape work in the digital age? In the comprehensive volume “Work in the Digital Age”, Das Progressive Zentrum’s Policy Fellows Max Neufeind and Florian Ranft as well as co-editor Jacqueline O’Reilly (University of Sussex) identify potential risks and develop an agenda to make work fit for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Their book brings together the analyses of more than 50 policy experts from across the globe.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is challenging the future of work. Technological change and automation risk making jobs redundant. But the naysayers are wrong. Automation doesn’t mean the end of work – we just need to get ready for the changes on the horizon.

The platform economy reinforces current labour market trends, enhancing inequalities and opening the door to discrimination. It lacks sustainability and poses a threat to the environment. But it does not mean the ‘end of employment’ – if companies and regulators take action.

How can progressive politics create innovative public policy able to engage with the challenges of work in the digital age? Das Progressive Zentrum’s Policy Fellows Max Neufeind and Florian Ranft as well as Jacqueline O’Reilly are the editors of the book “Work in the Digital Age” and urge us to update, recharge and reload the concept of work in society to make it fit for the fourth industrial revolution.

On Thursday, September 15, 6.30-8.30 pm, Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) hosted a roundtable discussion on the digital revolution, the future of work, and corresponding policies and politics.

On Thursday, September 8, 6.30-8.30 pm, Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) hosted a roundtable discussion on the App Economy in Germany. The occasion was the publication of PPI’s latest study “The App Economy in Europe: Leading Countries and Cities”.

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest
When Adam Smith wrote that all our actions stem from self-interest and the world turns because of financial gain he brought to life ‘economic man’. Selfish and cynical, economic man has dominated our thinking ever since and his influence has spread from the market to how we shop, work and date. But every night Adam Smith’s mother served him his dinner, not out of self-interest but out of love.
Today, our economics focuses on self-interest and excludes all other motivations. It disregards the unpaid work of mothering, caring, cleaning and cooking. It insists that if women are paid less, then that’s because their labour is worth less – how could it be otherwise?
Economics has told us a story about how the world works and we have swallowed it, hook, line and sinker. Now it’s time to change the story.
In this courageous look at the mess we’re in, Katrine Marçal tackles the biggest myth of our time and invites us to kick out economic man once and for all.

In den Debatten um die Reform des deutschen Sozialstaats werden die Sozialversicherungen meist als Inbegriff traditioneller, nachsorgender Sozialpolitik dargestellt – bisweilen sogar als Hemmnis für die Weiterentwicklung der Sozialpolitik in Richtung Vorsorge. Dieser Blick verkennt das große Potenzial, die Sozialversicherungen von schlafenden Riesen zu aktiven Gestaltern vorsorgender Sozialpolitik zu machen. Nur wenn sie befähigt werden, ihre Vorsorgeaktivitäten auszubauen, zu kooperieren und Netzwerke zu bilden, kann aus der vielbeschworenen Idee der Vorsorge sozialpolitische Realität in Deutschland werden.

Sozialdemokratische Denker suchen eine Alternative zum »Raubtierkapitalismus«. Mit ihrer Häme über den Dritten Weg schießen sie übers Ziel hinaus.

Festgemacht an Zahlen, Daten und Fakten steht Deutschland im internationalen Vergleich nicht so schlecht dar, wie es manche hierzulande empfinden. Und doch: Die Empfindung, dass wir eine grundlegende Krise erleben, könnte ein richtiger Kompass sein, denn wir stehen vor großen nationalen und globalen Herausforderungen. Wir müssen sie in den Blick nehmen und die Gestaltungsaufgabe annehmen, wenn wir eine lebenswerte Zukunft gewinnen wollen.