Marge Unt

Marge Unt is Professor of Comparative Sociology at the Institute for International Social Studies, Tallinn University. She leads and participates in major European research projects (EXCEPT, EUROSHIP, Mapineq, LEARN) and serves as editor-in-chief of the journal Studies of Transition States and Societies (STSS). Prof. Unt advises government agencies in Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar and Peru, and sits on numerous national and international evaluation committees.

Research Interests:

• Comparative life-course sociology: youth-to-adulthood transitions, maternity wage penalty, late-career dynamics.
• Cumulative inequality: how social networks, institutions and norms jointly shape individual trajectories and well-being.
• Platform economy & precarious work: ride-hailing drivers, collective action, decent work perceptions.
• Gender & labour markets: glass ceilings, sticky floors, hegemonic masculinity, caring masculinity.
• Social policy evaluation: childcare, parental leave, active labour-market policies, in-work poverty.

Across her 2020-2025 publications, a clear trend emerges: an emphasis on cross-national comparative analyses of youth labour-market insecurity, gendered wage penalties, and the social-psychological mechanisms that buffer or exacerbate inequality. Recent work increasingly integrates COVID-19 effects and digital platform labour into traditional life-course frameworks.

Scientific Awards & Distinctions:
While specific awards are not listed, Prof. Unt’s continuous leadership of high-profile EU projects, editorial role in STSS, and invitations to advise multiple national governments indicate sustained international recognition.

Grants, Projects & Advisory Roles:

• Coordinator/lead researcher: EXCEPT, EUROSHIP, Mapineq, LEARN.
• Policy advisor: Estonian, Kyrgyz, Qatari and Peruvian government agencies.
• Evaluator: national and international research-funding bodies.

Labs & Teams:
As principal investigator on several Horizon-type consortia, Prof. Unt heads multi-country teams of sociologists, economists, and policy analysts, fostering comparative data collection and mixed-methods research across Europe and beyond.