Alessandro Ferrara
@ferraraale.bsky.social
Postdoc at @wzb.bsky.social & @einsteinberlin.bsky.social | PhD in Sociology at @eui-eu.bsky.social | Social stratification, migration, education and health
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
📢 New paper out! How do partnership constellations relate to poverty in Germany?
Together with @emstruffolino.bsky.social, we examine different-sex partnerships and how low education and non-employment cluster, distinguishing non-migrants, descendants of migrants, and EU vs. non-EU migrants.
Together with @emstruffolino.bsky.social, we examine different-sex partnerships and how low education and non-employment cluster, distinguishing non-migrants, descendants of migrants, and EU vs. non-EU migrants.
November 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
📢 New paper out! How do partnership constellations relate to poverty in Germany?
Together with @emstruffolino.bsky.social, we examine different-sex partnerships and how low education and non-employment cluster, distinguishing non-migrants, descendants of migrants, and EU vs. non-EU migrants.
Together with @emstruffolino.bsky.social, we examine different-sex partnerships and how low education and non-employment cluster, distinguishing non-migrants, descendants of migrants, and EU vs. non-EU migrants.
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
New publication in @actasociologica.bsky.social!
@filippogch.bsky.social and I use a novel decomposition method (@ang-yu.bsky.social and Elwert) to study if and how *childcare arrangements* under age 3 shape disparities in children’s cognitive skills
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
1/5
@filippogch.bsky.social and I use a novel decomposition method (@ang-yu.bsky.social and Elwert) to study if and how *childcare arrangements* under age 3 shape disparities in children’s cognitive skills
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
1/5
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New publication in @actasociologica.bsky.social!
@filippogch.bsky.social and I use a novel decomposition method (@ang-yu.bsky.social and Elwert) to study if and how *childcare arrangements* under age 3 shape disparities in children’s cognitive skills
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
1/5
@filippogch.bsky.social and I use a novel decomposition method (@ang-yu.bsky.social and Elwert) to study if and how *childcare arrangements* under age 3 shape disparities in children’s cognitive skills
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
1/5
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
Paper by Cozzani et al. explores a possible mechanism underlying ART birth disparities & highlights that these disparities do not appear to arise from treatment success, at least when treatments are performed in widely subsidized public context in Italy. www.demographic-research.org/articles/vol...
October 2, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Paper by Cozzani et al. explores a possible mechanism underlying ART birth disparities & highlights that these disparities do not appear to arise from treatment success, at least when treatments are performed in widely subsidized public context in Italy. www.demographic-research.org/articles/vol...
Immigrants typically arrive in good health but experience fast health declines. Is the same true for Asylum Seekers though?
Check out my latest publication on PDR: doi.org/10.1111/padr...
Short answer: yes for (self-reported) physical health, but the opposite is true for mental health!
Check out my latest publication on PDR: doi.org/10.1111/padr...
Short answer: yes for (self-reported) physical health, but the opposite is true for mental health!
September 30, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Immigrants typically arrive in good health but experience fast health declines. Is the same true for Asylum Seekers though?
Check out my latest publication on PDR: doi.org/10.1111/padr...
Short answer: yes for (self-reported) physical health, but the opposite is true for mental health!
Check out my latest publication on PDR: doi.org/10.1111/padr...
Short answer: yes for (self-reported) physical health, but the opposite is true for mental health!
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
Teacher bias or unobserved ability? @ssreditorial.bsky.social paper w/ @marespadafor.bsky.social Test score error & omitted behavior = 🐘 in the (class)room to identify SES discrimination. Still, beyond "true ability", well-off (low-performing) kids get higher teacher ratings: doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
September 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Teacher bias or unobserved ability? @ssreditorial.bsky.social paper w/ @marespadafor.bsky.social Test score error & omitted behavior = 🐘 in the (class)room to identify SES discrimination. Still, beyond "true ability", well-off (low-performing) kids get higher teacher ratings: doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
Interesting paper on teacher bias by student SES www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Teacher bias by student SES or measurement error in ability? A cautionary tale for observational studies
Teachers act as judges of academic merit, but unfair evaluations beyond students' true abilities may perpetuate inequality based on socioeconomic stat…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Interesting paper on teacher bias by student SES www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
First single-author pub out in SSM!
It shows a mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of health inequality: high-SES families buffer genetic propensity for obesity & overweight, while low-SES environments trigger it 🌍🧬⚖️
OA:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/5
It shows a mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of health inequality: high-SES families buffer genetic propensity for obesity & overweight, while low-SES environments trigger it 🌍🧬⚖️
OA:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/5
The development of body mass index from adolescence to adulthood: A genotype-family socioeconomic status interaction study
Body weight in adolescence and adulthood may result from the interplay between individuals’ genetic characteristics and the social context in which th…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
First single-author pub out in SSM!
It shows a mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of health inequality: high-SES families buffer genetic propensity for obesity & overweight, while low-SES environments trigger it 🌍🧬⚖️
OA:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/5
It shows a mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of health inequality: high-SES families buffer genetic propensity for obesity & overweight, while low-SES environments trigger it 🌍🧬⚖️
OA:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/5
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
New paper in Social Science & Medicine: We test the psychological costs of intergenerational social mobility using German panel data. Findings suggest costs stem from pre-existing vulnerabilities, not mobility itself. Read: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Testing the Psychological Costs of Intergenerational Social Mobility: Evidence from a German Panel Study
This study investigates the psychological costs of intergenerational social mobility, focusing on both upward and downward mobility. While prior resea…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
New paper in Social Science & Medicine: We test the psychological costs of intergenerational social mobility using German panel data. Findings suggest costs stem from pre-existing vulnerabilities, not mobility itself. Read: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
"The geography of tertiary education inequality in EU"
just out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social with @mvaldes1989.bsky.social and Ilaria Lievore
An outcome of the mapineq.eu project
just out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social with @mvaldes1989.bsky.social and Ilaria Lievore
An outcome of the mapineq.eu project
The geography of tertiary education inequality in Europe: a within- and cross-country analysis over time
Abstract. In this article we study differences in levels of educational inequality across European countries and regions. We address two research questions. First, we ask whether educational inequalit...
direct.mit.edu
September 3, 2025 at 6:23 AM
"The geography of tertiary education inequality in EU"
just out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social with @mvaldes1989.bsky.social and Ilaria Lievore
An outcome of the mapineq.eu project
just out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social with @mvaldes1989.bsky.social and Ilaria Lievore
An outcome of the mapineq.eu project
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🎉 Delighted to share new research out today: The Political Consequences of the Mental Load
📄 European Sociological Review
doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf019
@europeansocreview.bsky.social
What happens to political engagement when the “mental load” of running a household gets too heavy? 🧵
📄 European Sociological Review
doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf019
@europeansocreview.bsky.social
What happens to political engagement when the “mental load” of running a household gets too heavy? 🧵
The political consequences of the mental load
Abstract. How do levels of cognitive household labour—the ‘mental load’ involved in anticipating, fulfilling, and monitoring household needs—affect politic
doi.org
August 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
🎉 Delighted to share new research out today: The Political Consequences of the Mental Load
📄 European Sociological Review
doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf019
@europeansocreview.bsky.social
What happens to political engagement when the “mental load” of running a household gets too heavy? 🧵
📄 European Sociological Review
doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf019
@europeansocreview.bsky.social
What happens to political engagement when the “mental load” of running a household gets too heavy? 🧵
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🚨NEW PAPER 🚨 Are police more right-wing and biased against marginalized groups than the general public? If so, why? My new article in
@pnas.org w/ @tylerreny.bsky.social, Newman, and Sears provides some answers. 🧵1/n
@pnas.org w/ @tylerreny.bsky.social, Newman, and Sears provides some answers. 🧵1/n
August 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
🚨NEW PAPER 🚨 Are police more right-wing and biased against marginalized groups than the general public? If so, why? My new article in
@pnas.org w/ @tylerreny.bsky.social, Newman, and Sears provides some answers. 🧵1/n
@pnas.org w/ @tylerreny.bsky.social, Newman, and Sears provides some answers. 🧵1/n
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
📣 New article out! With @sedovicmicha.bsky.social we look at not just how the majority thinks about immigration, but also what (first and second generation) migrants' attitudes are
Full piece in European Journal of Population:
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#migration #socialcohesion #europe
Full piece in European Journal of Population:
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#migration #socialcohesion #europe
Migrant and Non-migrant Views on Immigration in Europe - European Journal of Population
Attitudes toward immigration are usually investigated from the non-migrant residents’ perspective. Much less is known about how perceptions of immigration policy and immigrants vary across immigration...
doi.org
June 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
📣 New article out! With @sedovicmicha.bsky.social we look at not just how the majority thinks about immigration, but also what (first and second generation) migrants' attitudes are
Full piece in European Journal of Population:
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#migration #socialcohesion #europe
Full piece in European Journal of Population:
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#migration #socialcohesion #europe
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🌈 New Publication !!!
I'm excited to share our latest article, “A Marriage Premium for Whom? Sexual Identity, Relationship Status and Earnings”, co-authored with Diederik Boertien:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
You can find some of the main results in the thread.
I'm excited to share our latest article, “A Marriage Premium for Whom? Sexual Identity, Relationship Status and Earnings”, co-authored with Diederik Boertien:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
You can find some of the main results in the thread.
doi.org
June 20, 2025 at 1:11 PM
🌈 New Publication !!!
I'm excited to share our latest article, “A Marriage Premium for Whom? Sexual Identity, Relationship Status and Earnings”, co-authored with Diederik Boertien:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
You can find some of the main results in the thread.
I'm excited to share our latest article, “A Marriage Premium for Whom? Sexual Identity, Relationship Status and Earnings”, co-authored with Diederik Boertien:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
You can find some of the main results in the thread.
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
How much of the intergenerational transmission of SES is due to social factors?
To answer this, shared 🧬 between parents and children need to be considered. In our new study, we use two designs to account for genetic confounding.
We find that roughly 20 percent is due to social factors!
To answer this, shared 🧬 between parents and children need to be considered. In our new study, we use two designs to account for genetic confounding.
We find that roughly 20 percent is due to social factors!
Social origins and socioeconomic outcomes: a combined twin and adoption study
Abstract. Parents and children tend to have similar socioeconomic status (SES). Sociological theory has often emphasized the role of social mechanisms in i
academic.oup.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:44 AM
How much of the intergenerational transmission of SES is due to social factors?
To answer this, shared 🧬 between parents and children need to be considered. In our new study, we use two designs to account for genetic confounding.
We find that roughly 20 percent is due to social factors!
To answer this, shared 🧬 between parents and children need to be considered. In our new study, we use two designs to account for genetic confounding.
We find that roughly 20 percent is due to social factors!
How do parental health shocks affect children’s well-being, personality and NEET status?
Our new paper on @jmfncfr.bsky.social l suggests small or null effects in Germany.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social , Jonas Radl and Alena Scheinert
Open access here: doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
Our new paper on @jmfncfr.bsky.social l suggests small or null effects in Germany.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social , Jonas Radl and Alena Scheinert
Open access here: doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
June 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
How do parental health shocks affect children’s well-being, personality and NEET status?
Our new paper on @jmfncfr.bsky.social l suggests small or null effects in Germany.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social , Jonas Radl and Alena Scheinert
Open access here: doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
Our new paper on @jmfncfr.bsky.social l suggests small or null effects in Germany.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social , Jonas Radl and Alena Scheinert
Open access here: doi.org/10.1111/jomf...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
New paper with @fabriberna.bsky.social - part of my PhD thesis!
Why are the negative educational consequences of parental separation stronger among high-SES children?
→ When high-SES parents separate, they lose their ability to compensate for their child’s low genetic propensity for education 🧬👪
Why are the negative educational consequences of parental separation stronger among high-SES children?
→ When high-SES parents separate, they lose their ability to compensate for their child’s low genetic propensity for education 🧬👪
“SES, Genes & Differential Effects of Parental Separation on Educational Attainment”: @fabriberna.bsky.social & @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social find the largest penalty for “high-SES students whose parents separate is…among those w/ a low PGI EA.” @eui-eu.bsky.social read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...
June 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
New paper with @fabriberna.bsky.social - part of my PhD thesis!
Why are the negative educational consequences of parental separation stronger among high-SES children?
→ When high-SES parents separate, they lose their ability to compensate for their child’s low genetic propensity for education 🧬👪
Why are the negative educational consequences of parental separation stronger among high-SES children?
→ When high-SES parents separate, they lose their ability to compensate for their child’s low genetic propensity for education 🧬👪
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
New pub (w/ @fabriberna.bsky.social) highlighting how family socioeconomic background plays a key role in shaping genetic associations: advantaged families both compensate for and amplify their children’s genetic propensities for education
doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103174
👇🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103174
👇🧵
Our paper with @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social is now out at SSR!
Have a look if you are interested in social stratification and/or sociogenomics
Below are the main findings and contributions 1/6
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
Have a look if you are interested in social stratification and/or sociogenomics
Below are the main findings and contributions 1/6
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
April 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New pub (w/ @fabriberna.bsky.social) highlighting how family socioeconomic background plays a key role in shaping genetic associations: advantaged families both compensate for and amplify their children’s genetic propensities for education
doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103174
👇🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103174
👇🧵
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🧠🎓 Signal or substance?
What do employers really see in a university degree?
Our new paper in @europeansocreview.bsky.social dives into “sheepskin effects” using a factorial survey experiment.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social & @thijsbol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/esr/advance-...
What do employers really see in a university degree?
Our new paper in @europeansocreview.bsky.social dives into “sheepskin effects” using a factorial survey experiment.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social & @thijsbol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/esr/advance-...
June 12, 2025 at 8:37 AM
🧠🎓 Signal or substance?
What do employers really see in a university degree?
Our new paper in @europeansocreview.bsky.social dives into “sheepskin effects” using a factorial survey experiment.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social & @thijsbol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/esr/advance-...
What do employers really see in a university degree?
Our new paper in @europeansocreview.bsky.social dives into “sheepskin effects” using a factorial survey experiment.
With @jpheisig.bsky.social & @thijsbol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/esr/advance-...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
Marital separation, BMI decline, and the myth of the revenge body
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
@socarxiv.bsky.social preprint by Associate Member @nicolekapelle.bsky.social and Non-Stipendiary Research Fellow @andreatilstra.bsky.social
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
@socarxiv.bsky.social preprint by Associate Member @nicolekapelle.bsky.social and Non-Stipendiary Research Fellow @andreatilstra.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Marital separation, BMI decline, and the myth of the revenge body
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
@socarxiv.bsky.social preprint by Associate Member @nicolekapelle.bsky.social and Non-Stipendiary Research Fellow @andreatilstra.bsky.social
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
@socarxiv.bsky.social preprint by Associate Member @nicolekapelle.bsky.social and Non-Stipendiary Research Fellow @andreatilstra.bsky.social
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
New @florenceups.bsky.social WP 📄🔨! Italian panel tax data shows a positive 💸 income-first-child 👶 link for both men and women within couples. This finding challenges traditional gender roles 🚻 but warns of the (rising) economic stratification of parenthood 👇
labdisia.disia.unifi.it/wp_disia/202...
labdisia.disia.unifi.it/wp_disia/202...
May 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New @florenceups.bsky.social WP 📄🔨! Italian panel tax data shows a positive 💸 income-first-child 👶 link for both men and women within couples. This finding challenges traditional gender roles 🚻 but warns of the (rising) economic stratification of parenthood 👇
labdisia.disia.unifi.it/wp_disia/202...
labdisia.disia.unifi.it/wp_disia/202...
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🚨 Postdoc position! 🚨
Join MultiMasc — a project on social stratification & masculinities.
📍 Based at UNED (Madrid) / remote possible
🧑💻 1-year / €2,250 net monthly / €4,000 travel fund
👉 Apply by June 7
ℹ️More info 👉 files.persona.co/60187/Call-P...
🙏 Share widely 📣📣
#Sociology #Postdoc
Join MultiMasc — a project on social stratification & masculinities.
📍 Based at UNED (Madrid) / remote possible
🧑💻 1-year / €2,250 net monthly / €4,000 travel fund
👉 Apply by June 7
ℹ️More info 👉 files.persona.co/60187/Call-P...
🙏 Share widely 📣📣
#Sociology #Postdoc
files.persona.co
May 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
🚨 Postdoc position! 🚨
Join MultiMasc — a project on social stratification & masculinities.
📍 Based at UNED (Madrid) / remote possible
🧑💻 1-year / €2,250 net monthly / €4,000 travel fund
👉 Apply by June 7
ℹ️More info 👉 files.persona.co/60187/Call-P...
🙏 Share widely 📣📣
#Sociology #Postdoc
Join MultiMasc — a project on social stratification & masculinities.
📍 Based at UNED (Madrid) / remote possible
🧑💻 1-year / €2,250 net monthly / €4,000 travel fund
👉 Apply by June 7
ℹ️More info 👉 files.persona.co/60187/Call-P...
🙏 Share widely 📣📣
#Sociology #Postdoc
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
This
is
insane.
"two-thirds of warming is attributable to the wealthiest 10%"
is
insane.
"two-thirds of warming is attributable to the wealthiest 10%"
High-income groups disproportionately contribute to climate extremes worldwide - Nature Climate Change
While climate injustice is widely recognized, a quantification of how emissions inequality translates into unequal accountability is still lacking. Here researchers examine how affluent groups disprop...
www.nature.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:56 AM
This
is
insane.
"two-thirds of warming is attributable to the wealthiest 10%"
is
insane.
"two-thirds of warming is attributable to the wealthiest 10%"
Reposted by Alessandro Ferrara
🚨 Concern about climate change is linked to lower fertility intentions in Italy.
👉 New study out in Genus by @chiarapuglisi.bsky.social, Daniele Vignoli @florenceups.bsky.social & Raya Muttarak.
🔗 genus.springeropen.com/articles/10....
👉 New study out in Genus by @chiarapuglisi.bsky.social, Daniele Vignoli @florenceups.bsky.social & Raya Muttarak.
🔗 genus.springeropen.com/articles/10....
May 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
🚨 Concern about climate change is linked to lower fertility intentions in Italy.
👉 New study out in Genus by @chiarapuglisi.bsky.social, Daniele Vignoli @florenceups.bsky.social & Raya Muttarak.
🔗 genus.springeropen.com/articles/10....
👉 New study out in Genus by @chiarapuglisi.bsky.social, Daniele Vignoli @florenceups.bsky.social & Raya Muttarak.
🔗 genus.springeropen.com/articles/10....