Arnstein Aassve
Arnstein Aassve | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 19, 1968 Norway |
| Occupation | Demography professor |
| Known for | Director of the PhD program in Social and Political Science at Bocconi University; research on demography, sociology, and economics |
Arnstein Aassve (born June 19, 1968) is a Norwegian demography professor, serving as director of the PhD program in Social and Political Science and previously dean of the Undergraduate School at Bocconi University. His scholarly work bridges sociology, demography, and economics, emphasizing how globalization and cultural factors shape demographic developments. He currently heads the Horizon Europe-funded FutuRes initiative (Towards a resilient future of Europe).
Education
Aassve commenced his academic journey in 1988 by obtaining a BSc in Economics, Law, and Computer Science from Molde University College (Norway). Subsequently, he pursued advanced studies at the University of Bristol (UK), where he completed a Diploma in Economics, an MSc in Economics and Finance, and earned a PhD in Economics with a dissertation centered on econometric approaches to family formation.
Academic career
Following his doctoral degree, Aassve spent two years as a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (Rostock, Germany), contributing publications on transitions to adulthood and patterns of leaving the parental home. He then secured a tenured lectureship at the University of Leicester and later acted as Chief Research Officer at the Institute for Economic and Social Research (ISER, University of Essex), concentrating on the interplay between demography and poverty.
In 2007, he joined Bocconi University as an assistant professor specializing in demography, rapidly progressing to associate professor while also serving as deputy director of the DONDENA Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and overseeing the bachelor's program in international economics, management, and finance. By 2014, he had attained full professorship and was appointed dean of the undergraduate school. Currently, he holds an honorary fellowship at University of Wisconsin–Madison, directs the PhD program in Public Policy and Administration, functions as associate editor for the European Journal of Population, and chairs the European Research Council panel responsible for social sciences and humanities starting grants since 2018.
Research
Aassve has been instrumental in combining demographic research with welfare regime typologies, examining how welfare systems and social trust affect demographic behaviors. Leading numerous significant projects as principal investigator, his work includes:
- "Poverty dynamics and fertility in developing countries" (2004)
- "GGP", a European Framework Program 7 Infrastructure project (2008)
- "MULTILINKS", European Framework Program 7 (2008)
- "Consequences of Demographic Change" (CODEC), funded by the European Research Council (ERC) (2008)
- "Institutional Family Demography" (IFAMID), supported by ERC (2017)
His latest investigations explore the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility rates, mental health, trust levels, and social cohesion throughout Europe.
Additional achievements
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to population studies and social transformation, Aassve was honored with the Dirk van de Kaa award in Social Demography in 2014.
He is also a co-founder of the interdisciplinary Alp-Pop Conference initiated in 2011, which has become a prominent forum attracting leading scholars engaged in population research.
Notable Publications
- Murtin, F., Fleischer, L., Siegerink, V., Aassve, A., Algan, Y., and colleagues (2018). Trust and its determinants, OECD.
- Aassve, A., Mencarini, L., & Sironi, M. (2015). Institutional transformations, well-being, and fertility patterns. European Sociological Review, 31(6), 749-765.
- Aassve, A., Fuochi, G., & Mencarini, L. (2014). Housework under pressure: The influence of relative resources, available time, financial dependence, and gender beliefs in Europe. Journal of Family Issues, 35(8), 1000-1022.
- Aassve, A., Cottini, E., & Vitali, A. (2013). Economic downturns and youth outlooks. Demographic Research, 29, 949-962.
- Aassve, A., Arpino, B., & Goisis, A. (2012). The impact of grandparenting on maternal employment: A comparative study using the Generations and Gender Survey. Demographic Research, 27, 53-84.
- Aassve, A., Burgess, S. M., Dickson, M., & Propper, C. (2006). Addressing poverty modeling through a simultaneous hazards framework: Evidence from the UK.