ERSTE Foundation Fellowship for Social Research 2012/2013

Deadline: 10 June 2012
Open to: Researchers, scientists and practitioners from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe studying or dealing with economic and socio-demographic change
Fellowship: Financial support for up to one year for the proposed paper or project

Description

Demographic and socio-economic changes affecting the transformation processes in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe are among the most significant challenges for the future of social cohesion and intergenerational solidarity.

ERSTE Foundation invites researchers, scientists and practitioners from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe studying or dealing with economic and socio-demographic change to apply for fellowships. The fellowships will be awarded based on a proposal for a research paper or project dealing with the issues listed below, in a theoretical, empirical or practical way. The fellows will be selected by an independent jury.

“Labour markets and employment in CEE”

Many European societies face various challenges when it comes to employment and labour market. This is particularly true for the CEE region. Countries in CEE have some of the lowest labour market participation rates in Europe. What does this mean for the capacity of these countries to tackle future economic, social and demographic changes? What are the possible long term effects of a low participation rate? Are there perspectives/models for improving the participation rates? How do they fit with the political and institutional setting in CEE countries? What role does labour migration and remittances play in this context? Which population groups remain on the margins or completely outside the formal labour market? How could they be better included into the formal sector of employment? Is the informal sector able to compensate for low formal employment? If the informal sector does compensate for a low participation rate, is this positive or negative for societies in CEE? What lessons can be learned for our understanding of labour markets, the concept of gainful employment and the socio-economic consequences of low formal employment? What are the practical implications of these lessons?

Fellowship

The fellowship includes:

• Financial support for up to one year for the proposed paper or project;
• Invitation to a scientific conference;
• Affiliation with a network of researchers and practitioners interested in socio-economic and demographic change, employment and unemployment, aging, migration and intergenerational transfers;
• Participation in internal workshops, an ERSTE Foundation Summer School and selected other public events;
• Publication and promotion of results.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open to researchers, scientists and practitioners from Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe studying or dealing with employment, labour markets and socio-demographic change in this region in a theoretical, empirical or practical way.

Application

Applications may be handed in by e-mail until 10 June 2012 and should comprise an abstract of the proposed paper (max. 2 pages), a short budget estimate and a CV of the applicant.

Applications should be sent to:

Alina Serban
Tel: +43(0)50100-15416
Email: alina.serban@erstestiftung.org

For more information please read the Official Call.

The Official Website