Inequality & Poverty

Community garden: the path to a flourishing neighborhood

In the north of Tilburg lies a small neighborhood, Stokhasselt South. It does not take a long walk through the streets to appreciate this part of the city. In the calmness of the neighborhood, you can...Read More

The power of public art: A community Mural in Stokhasselt-Noord

Walking around Tilburg, there is a neighborhood called Stokhasselt-Noord, a place that is home to many immigrants in the Netherlands. This neighborhood is not considered to be very nice in comparison ...Read More

How the Kibbutz used to maximize Meaning in Life but forgot about Happiness

Have you ever thought about how the neighborhood you live in affects your life? In the social sciences, sociologists have been dealing with this question for a long time.  Already in the 1970s re...Read More

Rising Educational Inequality among Dutch Students

This is a summary of the policy brief of Melissa Balla for the course The Social Structure of Western Societies. Learning loss involves the loss of any form of knowledge or skill, including regular ch...Read More

State of Flow and Wellbeing: Why Neighbourhood Characteristics Matter

Think about your neighbourhood. What places do you enjoy going to? What are your favourite spots? Imagine areas that bring you joy, or perhaps where you feel relaxed. What are you doing there? For me ...Read More

Ethnic Neighborhoods and Engagement – The Case of Latino Neighborhoods in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois is not just known as the Windy City, but also as the City of Neighborhoods. During the 10 months I spent living in the midwestern metropolis, I realized how fitting both of these nic...Read More

The Housing Crisis: from Trading to Housing

This is a summary of the policy brief of Luuk Van Weert for the course The Social Structure of Western Societies. The author reports that across Western countries a housing crisis has occurred. For hi...Read More

Community gardening: why not just a garden alone?

According to the American Community Garden Association, “a community garden is somewhere people come together to grow plants and share the benefits of doing so.” [1].  At first sight, it seems to be a...Read More

Are we truly all in this together? The impact of COVID-19 on socio-economic inequality in education in the U.K.

This is a summary of the policy brief from Romy Oomens for the course The Social Structure of Western Societies. The author reports that aside from the primary effects of the pandemic (i.e. deteriorat...Read More