Professor Kirsten Sehnbruch

This project will make a significant contribution to social indicators research in middle-income countries by developing and applying a multidimensional index for measuring the quality of employment that will complement traditional measures (e.g. (un)employment rates) and allow for an analysis of inequalities using the theoretical framework of the capability approach. It will examine the relationship between this index and other macroeconomic, social and institutional variables as well as individual and household characteristics.

Building on Professor Kirsten Sehnbruch’s existing work, the project will use a unique administrative database from Chile to model this indicator with real data and examine its applicability in a public policy context which needs to identify the most vulnerable workers to design appropriate labour and social protection policies. This methodology is highly original and will generate useful lessons for other developing countries and ground-breaking new evidence that furthers the goal of promoting social justice.