Prof. David Weisstanner, PhD
Professor of Health and Social Policy
T +41 41 229 57 40 • Alpenquai 4, Room 11 • david.weisstanner@unilu.ch
CV
David Weisstanner is professor of health and social policy at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at the University of Lucerne. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Bern and has held academic positions at the University of Oxford and Aarhus University. His research lies at the intersection of electoral politics, social policy, and public opinion, with a focus on how advanced democracies respond to challenges such as inequality and technological change, and how these issues become politicized. He currently leads a four-year SNSF project on "Party politics and the politicization of health care" (2025–2029). At the University of Lucerne, he teaches courses on health and social policy, health inequality, and Swiss health policy. With his background in political science and social policy, he takes an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing current policy challenges.
Projects
Publications
- Jacques, O., Baute, S., Busemeyer, M., & Weisstanner, D. (2026). Health Care as Social Investment? Public Opinion on Trade-Offs Between Curative and Preventive Care in Four OECD Countries. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 51 (3), 379–405. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-12317985
- Weisstanner, D., & van Kersbergen, K. (2026). Managing the Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Perceived Risks and Social Policy Preferences Among Firm-Level Decision Makers. Social Policy & Administration, 60 (1), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16570774
- Hodel, J., Rothacher, Y., de Almeida Moreira, A. B., Fellinghauer, C., Pacheco Barzallo, D. P., Weisstanner, D., … Sabariego Tomas, C. (2026). Disability severity transitions in the community-dwelling Swiss ageing population: secondary analysis of the Swiss version of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) using multistate models. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104871
- Ort, A., Stefanelli, S., & Weisstanner, D. (2026). Health Information Seeking by People Navigating Masculinizing Transition Pathways in Switzerland: Communication Inequalities and Adaptive Approaches. Health Communication, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2026.2743838
- Maritz, R., Weisstanner, D., Stucki, G., Sidler, O., Scheel-Sailer, A., Sturzenegger, C., … The, R. (2026). Policy brief: how can rehabilitation be strengthened in Switzerland? Evidence-informed policy considerations based on the 2023 World Health Assembly resolution on strengthening rehabilitation in health systems. Public Health Reviews, 1609467 ff. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2026.1609467
- Jacques, O., Weisstanner, D., Baute, S., & Busemeyer, M. (2026). Responding to growing health care costs: Public preferences in four OECD countries. SSM - Health Systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmhs.2026.100211
- Maritz, R., Beganovic, B., Gattinger, H., Zech, L., Claudia, G., Kohler, M., … Sabariego Tomas, C. (2026). Swiss Nursing Perspectives on the Relevance of the World Health Assembly Resolution on Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems: Subanalysis of Rehabilitation Nurses from a National Online Survey. Nursing: Research and Reviews, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.2147/NRR.S623129
- Goubin, S., Jacques, O., Kumlin, S., & Weisstanner, D. (2026). Why Some Want Something for Nothing: Three Explanations for Unfunded Spending Demand. Scandinavian Political Studies, 1, e70034 ff. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9477.70034
- Horn, A., Jensen, C., & Weisstanner, D. (2026). Winning with equality: how left-wing parties attract votes but amplify electoral cleavages. Journal of European Public Policy, 0, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2026.2614069
- Maritz, R., Beganovic, L., Weisstanner, D., McHugh, L., & Sabariego Tomas, C. (2025). Exploring perspectives on implementing the World Health Assembly’s Resolution for Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems in Switzerland: a representative rehabilitation stakeholder survey. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47 (14), 3696–3707. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2429744
- Weisstanner, D., & Engler, S. (2025). The Electoral Appeal of Symbolic Class Signalling Through Cultural Consumption. British Journal of Political Science, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123425100513
- Weisstanner, D., & Jensen, C. (2024). Political mobilization and socioeconomic inequality in policy congruence. European Journal of Political Research, 63 (4), 1540–1556.
- Maritz, R., Beganovic, L., Weisstanner, D., & Sabariego Tomas, C. (2024). Exploring perspectives on implementing the World Health Assembly’s Resolution for Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems in Switzerland: a representative rehabilitation stakeholder survey. Disability and Rehabilitation, 0, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2429744
- Weisstanner, D. (2023). Stagnating incomes and preferences for redistribution: The role of absolute and relative experiences. European Journal of Political Research, 62 (2), 551–570. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12520
- Weisstanner, D. (2022). COVID-19 and welfare state support: the case of universal basic income. Policy and Society, 1, 96–110. https://doi.org/10.1093/polsoc/puab015
- Paskov, M., & Weisstanner, D. (2022). Cross-Class Embeddedness through Family Ties and Support for Income Redistribution. European Sociological Review, 2, 286–303. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcab040
- Armingeon, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2022). Objective Conditions Count, Political Beliefs Decide: The Conditional Effects of Self-Interest and Ideology on Redistribution Preferences. Political Studies, 4, 887–900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321721993652
- Goedemé, T., Nolan, B., Paskov, M., & Weisstanner, D. (2022). Occupational Social Class and Earnings Inequality in Europe: A Comparative Assessment. Social Indicators Research, 1, 215–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02746-z
- Weisstanner, D., & Armingeon, K. (2022). Redistributive preferences: Why actual income is ultimately more important than perceived income. Journal of European Social Policy, 2, 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwy018
- Nolan, B., & Weisstanner, D. (2022). Rising income inequality and the relative decline in subjective social status of the working class. West European Politics, 6, 1206–1230. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2022.2038892
- Goedemé, T., Paskov, M., Weisstanner, D., & Nolan, B. (2021). Between-Class Earnings Inequality in 30 European Countries: A Regression-Based Decomposition. Comparative Sociology, 6, 741–778. https://doi.org/10.1163/15691330-bja10046
- Nolan, B., & Weisstanner, D. (2021). Has the middle secured its share of growth or been squeezed? West European Politics, 2, 426–438. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2020.1727173
- Weisstanner, D. (2021). Insiders under pressure: Flexibilization at the margins and wage inequality. Journal of Social Policy, 4, 725–744. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279420000409
- Engler, S., & Weisstanner, D. (2021). The threat of social decline: Income inequality and radical right support. Journal of European Public Policy, 2, 153–173.
- Dermont, C., & Weisstanner, D. (2020). Automation and the future of the welfare state: basic income as a response to technological change? Political Research Exchange, 1, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/2474736X.2020.1757387
- Weisstanner, D., & Armingeon, K. (2020). How redistributive policies reduce market inequality: education premiums in 22 OECD countries. Socio-Economic Review, 3, 839–856. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwy018
- Pontusson, J., & Weisstanner, D. (2018). Macroeconomic conditions, inequality shocks and the politics of redistribution, 1990–2013. Journal of European Public Policy, 1, 31–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2017.1310280
- Weisstanner, D. (2017). The fiscal benefits of repeated cooperation: coalitions and debt dynamics in 36 democracies. Journal of Public Policy, 2, 143–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0143814X16000040
- Armingeon, K., Guthmann, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2016). Choosing the path of austerity: how parties and policy coalitions influence welfare state retrenchment in periods of fiscal consolidation. West European Politics, 4, 628–647. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2015.1111072
- Armingeon, K., Guthmann, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2016). How the Euro divides the union: the effect of economic adjustment on support for democracy in Europe. Socio-Economic Review, 1, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwv028
- Armingeon, K., Guthmann, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2015). Wie der Euro Europa spaltet. Die Krise der gemeinsamen Währung und die Entfremdung von der Demokratie in der Europäischen Union. Politische Vierteljahresschrift, 3, 506–531. https://doi.org/10.5771/0032-3470-2015-3-506
- Armingeon, K., Guthmann, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2014). Politische Voraussetzungen von Austeritätspolitik: Ein internationaler Vergleich von 17 etablierten Demokratien zwischen 1978 und 2009. Zeitschrift für Staats- und Europawissenschaften, 242–271.
- Armingeon, K., & Weisstanner, D. (2023). Liberalization and income inequality in worlds of welfare: A comparative analysis (1974-2013). In Green-Pedersen, Christoffer, Jensen, Carsten & Vis, Barbara (Eds.), No Normal Science! Festschrift for Kees van Kersbergen (pp. 173–186). Aarhus: Politica.
- Weisstanner, D. (2023). Technological change and labour market policy preferences. In Clegg, Daniel & Durazzi, Niccolo (Eds.), Handbook of Labour Market Policy in Advanced Democracies (pp. 132–147). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Engler, S., & Weisstanner, D. (2020). Income inequality, status decline and support for the radical right. In Careja, Romana, Emmenegger, Patrick & Giger, Nathalie (Eds.), The European Social Model under Pressure (pp. 383–400). Wiesbaden: Springer.
- Stahl, R., & Weisstanner, D. (1 June 2026). Politische Konsequenzen von Spitalschliessungen in der Schweiz. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19859041
- Weisstanner, D., & Engler, S. (2023). Does symbolic representation through class signalling appeal to voters? Evidence from a conjoint experiment (URPP Equality of Opportunity Discussion Paper Series No. 33). Zürich: Universität Zürich. Retrieved from https://www.urpp-equality.uzh.ch/en/Discussion-Paper-Series.html
Achievements
- Socioeconomic inequalities in employment trajectories following a cancer diagnosis: A study of 29 European countries. Lecture, Swiss Public Health Conference, Public Health Schweiz; Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Lugano, 2025
- Skills and gender wage gaps in the European health Workforce: The role of academization and feminization. (Panel) contribution, Swiss Public Health Conference 2024, Public Health Schweiz and Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Fribourg, 2024
- Socioeconomic inequalities in employment trajectories following a cancer diagnosis: A study of 29 European countries. Lecture, Research Symposium Health Lucerne, Universität Luzern; Hochschule Luzern; XUND, Lucerne, 2025
- "Clapping Is Not Enough": Trends in Earnings of Health Professionals in 31 European Countries, 2004-2020. (Panel) contribution, Forschungssymposium Gesundheit, Hochschule Luzern, Universität Luzern, XUND, Luzern, 2024
- Does symbolic representation through class signalling appeal to voters? Evidence from a conjoint experiment. (Panel) contribution, Swiss Political Science Association (SPSA) Annual Congress, Swiss Political Science Association, St. Gallen, 2024
- Enhancing job satisfaction in hospital-based healthcare: a systematic review of evidence-based interventions and policy strategies. Lecture, 2. Forschungssymposium Gesundheit Luzern, HSLU, Universität Luzern, XUND, Luzern, 2024
- Job satisfaction in hospital-based healthcare. Lecture, Swiss Public Health Conference, Public Health Schweiz und der Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Fribourg, 2024
- Permanent Income and Electoral Realignment. (Panel) contribution, 30th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Lyon, 2024
- The politics of growing health care costs: evidence from new survey experiments. (Panel) contribution, 30th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Lyon, 2024
- Unfairness perceptions and voting behavior: Egalitarianism, resentment, or withdrawal? (Panel) contribution, 30th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Lyon, 2024
- Winning with Equality: How Left-wing Parties Attract Votes but Amplify Electoral Cleavages. (Panel) contribution, In_equality Conference 2024, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 2024
- Does symbolic representation through class signalling appeal to voters? Evidence from a conjoint experiment. (Panel) contribution, 29th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Reykjavik, 2023
- Managing Digitalization at the Company Level: Perceptions and Policy Responses to Artificial Intelligence among Managers and Employees. (Panel) contribution, 29th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Reykjavik, 2023
- Permanent income and electoral realignment. (Panel) contribution, SPSA/SVPW Annual Conference, Swiss Political Science Association (SPSA/SVPW), Basel, 2023
- Something for Nothing in Scandinavia: Does Economic Vulnerability Fuel Unfunded Spending Demand? (Panel) contribution, 29th International Conference of Europeanists, Council for European Studies (CES), Reykjavik, 2023
- Spotlight Gesundheit – AI in Academia: Implications for Research and Teaching, Member of organisation committee, Luzern, 2025
- Inequality and political behaviour: Voters, parties, and policies, (Co-)Organiser, Oxford, 2023
- Inequality and political behaviour: Voters, parties, and policies, (Co-)Organiser, Oxford, 2023
- Gesundheitspolitische Aspekte der Rehabilitation. Reha Schweiz Kongress 2024, Zürich, 2024
- Präferenzen in der Gesundheits- und Sozialpolitik: Ein «something for nothing»-Syndrom? GMF Faculty Lecture, Luzern, 2024
- Was bedeutet eine UN-Resolution für die Schweiz? Konsequenzen und Nutzen. 1. LIFE Forum Rehabilitation, Luzern, 2024
- In der Krise rechts wählen? Die Rolle sozioökonomischer Ungleichheit für den Aufstieg der Rechten. Vorlesungsreihe "Der Aufstieg der europäischen Rechten", Zürich, 2024
- The Financial Commitment to Rehabilitation in Switzerland. Joint Online Lecture Series "Strengthening Rehabilitation in Switzerland", Online, 2023
- Managing Digitalization at the Company Level: Perceptions and Policy Responses to Artificial Intelligence among Managers and Employees. Workshop: Political Consequences of Technological Change, Zürich, 2023
- Permanent income and electoral realignment. Kolloquium Institut für Politische Wissenschaft (IPW) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 2023
- British Journal of Political Science, 2024
- Comparative European Politics, 2024
- Comparative Political Studies, 2024
- European Journal of Political Research, 2024
- European Journal of Political Research, 2024
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 2024
- Journal of European Public Policy, 2024
- Journal of European Public Policy, 2024
- Review of International Political Economy, 2024
- Social Forces, 2024
- Socio-Economic Review, 2024
- Socio-Economic Review, 2024
- West European Politics, 2024
- British Journal of Political Science, 2023
- British Journal of Sociology, 2023
- British Journal of Sociology, 2023
- European Journal of Political Research, 2023
- European Policy Analysis, 2023
- Socio-Economic Review, 2023
- Socio-Economic Review, 2023
- American Political Science Review, 2022
- British Journal of Political Science, 2022
- Electoral Studies, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- European Journal of Social Security, 2022
- European Journal of Social Security, 2022
- European Political Science Review, 2022
- European Societies, 2022
- European Societies, 2022
- European Sociological Review, 2022
- Journal of European Social Policy, 2022
- Journal of Social Policy, 2022
- Journal of Social Policy, 2022
- Political Science Research and Methods, 2022
- Political Science Research and Methods, 2022
- Social Policy and Society, 2022
- Social Sciences, 2022
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- The Journal of Politics, 2022
- Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems, Member, Switzerland, 2024–
- Institute for New Economic Thinking, University of Oxford, Member, United Kingdom, 2018–
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Member, United Kingdom, 2018–
- Swiss Political Science Association, Member, Switzerland, 2015–
- Swiss School of Public Health SSPH+, Member, Switzerland, 2023–
