DIAL

Basic Information

Description

Existing and rising inequalities pose fundamental challenges to European societies and economies. Large disparities in
human and social capacities are counterproductive to a sustainable and creative economy and participatory governance and
inclusion. The increasing gulf between rich and poor, exacerbated by the recent financial and economic crises, is a key
concern. The sources of inequalities in contemporary societies are complex and highly intertwined and they and their
consequences can only be understood through comprehensive, comparative and innovative research activities.
It is for this reason that the NORFACE Network is committed to launch a transnational research programme on the topic of
Dynamics of Inequality Across the Life-course: structures and processes (DIAL). The DIAL programme will contribute to
understanding the dynamics of inequalities as they unfold over the life-course, causal processes and drivers in relation to
these inequalities, the role of time with regard to inequalities and the impact of these inequalities on social cohesion. The
specific challenge of this Call is to address the dynamics comparatively in their social, cultural, economic and political
dimensions and to disentangle the impact of past events and current circumstances on later outcomes to provide solutions to
reverse inequalities across the life-course.
The NORFACE DIAL programme will coordinate the research efforts of the participating European Member States by
implementing a joint trans-national call with European Commission co-funding to fund innovative comparative, transnational
and interdisciplinary research initiatives within this thematic field. The NORFACE Network has received core funding under
the European Union’s ERA-Net scheme since 2004 and has developed a close partnership of European national agencies
responsible for funding research activities in the social sciences. The DIAL programme builds on the successes of the
NORFACE Network.

H2020 Societal Challenges

H2020-SC6 (Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies)