Social Class in Europe : An Introduction to the European Socio-economic Classification

This timely volume introduces a new social class schema, the European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC), which has been specifically developed and tested for use in EU comparative research. Social Class in Europe aims to introduce researchers to the new classification and its research potential. Since socio-economic classifications are so widely used in official and academic research, this collection is essential reading for all users of both government and academic social classifications. While primarily aimed at researchers who will be using the ESeC, the book’s contents will also have a wider appeal as it is suitable for students taking substantive courses in European studies or as a supplementary text for undergraduates studying the EU, Sociology and Economics. Because of its inherent methodological interest, the book should prove a valuable tool for undergraduate and graduate courses that discuss how social scientists construct and validate basic measures. It will also be required reading for policy makers and analysts concerned with social inequality and social exclusion across Europe.

David Rose is Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex. He was academic convener of both the ESRC Review of Government Social Classifications, which led to the creation of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, and the of ESeC project, and has published widely on the topic of social class in the UK, including Social Class in Modern Britain (with Gordon Marshall, Howard Newby and Carolyn Vogler, 1988); Constructing Classes (with K. O’Reilly (ed.), 1997); A Researcher’s Guide to the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (ed. with David Pevalin, 2003); and The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification: Origins, Development and Use (with David Pevalin and Karen O’Reilly, 2005). He is an Academician of the Social Sciences.

Eric Harrison is Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Comparative Social Surveys at City University London, UK. He was the assistant convener of the ESeC project, but now works in the ESS coordination team. His principal research interests lie in social stratification, social inequality and comparative research methodology.