"Showing with facts how our society functions."

Prof. Dr. Martin Schröder (*1981) is a professor of sociology specializing in social inequality, welfare states, varieties of capitalism, generations, morality, life satisfaction, and European identity. He earned his Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne and studied in Osnabrück, Sciences Po Paris, and Harvard University.

Books

His first popular science book explained why we fail to notice that our lives are improving. Through numerous studies, graphs, and examples, he demonstrates that life has never been better than today—despite what opinion leaders often claim. 

His second book, "When Are We Really Satisfied?" answers this question empirically using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel. His third book, "When Are Women Really Satisfied?" documents when women are empirically satisfied with their lives and the extent to which they feel they are not disadvantaged. Spoiler alert: They do not feel disadvantaged but rather recognized and satisfied. 

Martin Schröder has authored three academic books and around 25 peer-reviewed journal articles. Since 2022, he has held a professorship in sociology with a focus on Europe at Saarland University. 

Research and Publications

Martin Schröder's research focuses on how social conditions influence economic and political actions and attitudes. He investigates topics such as the impact of changing notions of justice on social inequality, gender biases in the labor market, and the role of historical cultural development in explaining differences among capitalist countries. He is interested in the conditions under which people identify with Europe.

Courses and Thesis Supervision

Martin Schröder supervises thesis topics including:

- The relationship between media discourse on social inequality and real inequality.
- The connection between social inequality and social policy.
- The conditions under which men and women earn differently and the variables explaining these differences.
- Forms of European identity and their relation to national identity.