معرفی
Arno Van Hootegem is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo. His research bridges sociology, genetics, and political science to examine social stratification, welfare state attitudes, and distributive justice. Based in Harriet Holter's House at Moltke Moes vei 31, he maintains office hours every Wednesday from 14:00-15:30 and can be reached at Room 447 (English interface) or Room 408 (Norwegian interface).
Van Hootegem's research focuses on social science genetics, inequality and class structures, public opinion dynamics, and welfare state policy. His quantitative approach examines how genetic and environmental factors interact in socioeconomic mobility, with particular attention to justice perceptions in household labor division, activation policies, and benefit generosity. His work reveals nuanced public attitudes toward redistribution, showing how issue politicization creates ideological divides in equality support.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals three dominant research streams: (1) genetic influences on social stratification using twin/adoption studies, (2) multidimensional welfare state attitudes examining activation policies and basic income support, and (3) distributive justice preferences across welfare domains. His work frequently employs advanced quantitative methods including longitudinal analysis, vignette experiments, and cross-national comparisons between Norway, Germany, and Belgium.
Van Hootegem actively contributes to major research initiatives including the AHeadForLife project and WELTRUST (Welfare State Support and Political Trust), focusing on the interplay between economic factors, cultural norms, and policy design in shaping political trust. His collaborative work with researchers like Torkild Hovde Lyngstad, Koen Abts, and Bart Meuleman demonstrates strong international research networks within European sociology.
