Ass.-Prof. Dr. David Weisstanner, PhD
Assistant Professor of Health and Social Policy
T +41 41 229 57 40 • Alpenquai 4, Room 11 • david.weisstanner @ unilu.ch
CV
David Weisstanner is assistant professor of health and social policy at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Bern. From 2018 to 2021, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, working on a project on inequality and inclusive growth in the Department of Social Policy and Intervention. He has also been an associate member at Nuffield College and at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. From 2021 to 2022, he was an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University in Denmark. There, his research focused on inequalities in policy representation, electoral behaviour, and social policy responses to technological change. At the University of Lucerne, he teaches courses on health and social policy, health inequality, and Swiss health policy.
Research
David is interested in how the political and socioeconomic context influences societal health. He explores why health and social systems vary between countries and what drives the political reform process of these systems. Additionally, he has a research interest in health inequality and socioeconomic inequality. He examines how these inequalities are shaped by health and social policies, and the consequences of these inequalities on political and electoral behaviour. With his background in political science and social policy, David adopts an interdisciplinary approach to find innovative policy solutions for current health policy challenges.
For ongoing research projects, see https://www.davidweisstanner.com/work-in-progress.
Publications
- 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., Menzi, L., & Sabariego, 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.
Achievements
- 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
- "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
- Unfairness perceptions and voting behavior: Egalitarianism, resentment, or withdrawal? (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
- Permanent Income and Electoral Realignment. (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
- Permanent income and electoral realignment. (Panel) contribution, SPSA/SVPW Annual Conference, Swiss Political Science Association (SPSA/SVPW), Basel, 2023
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Comparative Political Studies, 2024
- European Journal of Political Research, 2024
- Comparative European Politics, 2024
- Social Forces, 2024
- Journal of European Public Policy, 2024
- Socio-Economic Review, 2024
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 2024
- West European Politics, 2024
- European Journal of Political Research, 2024
- Review of International Political Economy, 2024
- British Journal of Political Science, 2024
- Socio-Economic Review, 2024
- Journal of European Public Policy, 2024
- British Journal of Political Science, 2023
- British Journal of Sociology, 2023
- European Policy Analysis, 2023
- Socio-Economic Review, 2023
- British Journal of Sociology, 2023
- Socio-Economic Review, 2023
- European Journal of Political Research, 2023
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- Political Science Research and Methods, 2022
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- European Sociological Review, 2022
- American Political Science Review, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- Journal of Social Policy, 2022
- Journal of European Social Policy, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- European Societies, 2022
- European Journal of Social Security, 2022
- Social Sciences, 2022
- Political Science Research and Methods, 2022
- Socio-Economic Review, 2022
- European Political Science Review, 2022
- European Journal of Political Research, 2022
- The Journal of Politics, 2022
- Journal of Social Policy, 2022
- European Journal of Social Security, 2022
- British Journal of Political Science, 2022
- Electoral Studies, 2022
- Social Policy and Society, 2022
- European Societies, 2022
- Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems, Member, Switzerland, 2024–
- Swiss School of Public Health SSPH+, Member, Switzerland, 2023–
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Member, United Kingdom, 2018–
- Institute for New Economic Thinking, University of Oxford, Member, United Kingdom, 2018–
- Swiss Political Science Association, Member, Switzerland, 2015–