Scientific Coordinator: Roberto Rizza
Unibo unit research group coordination: the main objective of the project is to help shed some light on the institutional framework of inclusive growth by comparing different models of capitalism. The literature on the so-called "varieties of capitalism" has provided some hypotheses to account for the differences between models of capitalism and their potential effect on inclusive growth. Within this approach, however, the institutional framework and the regulations resulting from it are considered essentially as data; thus, it does not link the sphere of policy to that of politics.
For a better understanding of the process of inclusive growth, it seems rather necessary to clarify – from a comparative perspective – how consensus is achieved and how decision-making processes leading to policies favouring inclusive growth are structured. This requires a closer connection, which is lacking so far, between economic sociology and political economy approaches and approaches based on political sociology and political science.
As for the policies, the policy arenas directly influencing inequalities (welfare state and industrial relations, types of employment in the service sector) and those that make up for these differences (creation of human capital and innovation policies).
From the point of view of politics, the variables that contribute to the definition of different "types of democracy" (political culture, electoral system, party system, leadership, representation of economic interests) will be considered. The as-of-yet unexplored hypothesis is that "consensual democracies", unlike "majoritarian" ones, are a more favourable context for policies that support inclusive growth.