Ivar Lødemel

Ivar Lødemel is a Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. His work focuses on social policy, work inclusion, and activation programs within comparative welfare state contexts. He leads research on social citizenship, poverty, and labor market integration, with particular expertise in Norwegian social assistance systems and their transformation.

Professor Lødemel's research interests span across several key areas of social policy. He specializes in activation policies and workfare programs, examining how labor market integration strategies affect social inclusion. His work on social citizenship explores theoretical frameworks beyond traditional Nordic welfare models. He investigates comparative urban contexts of work inclusion, particularly regarding migrant populations. His research also addresses poverty in affluent societies, welfare state transformations during austerity, and the psychological impacts of benefit conditionality. Lødemel contributes significantly to understanding the implementation gap between policy intentions and realities in social assistance systems.

Analyzing his recent publications reveals a strong focus on activation policies across European welfare states, with particular attention to Norway's NAV reforms. His work demonstrates an evolving research trajectory from examining specific Norwegian programs to developing broader theoretical frameworks about social citizenship and property rights in welfare states. Lødemel frequently employs comparative methodologies, analyzing policy diffusion across national contexts while maintaining focus on the unique aspects of Scandinavian social models. His publications consistently address the tension between welfare state protections and labor market activation requirements.

Professor Lødemel actively contributes to research communities through his involvement with the Living Conditions, Health, Work and Social Inequality Research Group and the Work Inclusion in North and South: Comparative Urban Contexts (WORKINC) project. His WINS project specifically examines how work inclusion affects social inclusion of migrants in urban settings across different national contexts. These research initiatives reflect his commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in social policy through both theoretical innovation and practical policy analysis.