In view of the forthcoming Call for applications

the Network for the Advancement of Social and Political Studies - NASP

is pleased to invite you to the

Annual lecture & Presentation
of the PhD Programme in Political Studies (POLS)
2025/2026

10 April 2025 
h 11:30 - 13:30 (CEST - Milan time) 
Room B - NASP Graduate School
Via PAce, 10 - Milan
and on Zoom

Programme

11:30  Welcome and Presentation of the Doctoral programme
           Fabio Franchino - Programme Director, University of Milan

11:45  Annual Lecture
           Deservingness perceptions in the social investment welfare state
           Giuliano Bonoli - University of Lausanne, Member of the Faculty Board

Abstract
Research on perceptions of deservingness informs us about the factors that determine the legitimacy of welfare states. Overall, it shows that individuals in Western societies are generally willing to support others as long as these are not perceived as free riders. This rather robust finding is based on decades of research focusing on redistributive policies. However, in line with the social investment approach, welfare states are being reoriented and increasingly fight disadvantage by investing in services like childcare and training and less through redistribution. Does this reorientation have an impact on perceptions of deservingness to collective help and hence on the legitimacy of welfare states? The lecture will discuss this issue on the basis of recently published comparative research on Europe and North America. It will show both the persistence of deservingness perceptions and the impact that national institutions have on them.