Philipp Lersch

Philipp Lersch is a Professor of Sociology of Social Policy at the Institute of Social Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin and heads the Life Course and Inequality Research Group at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). His work bridges longitudinal data analysis, social policy, and economic sociology.

• Humboldt University of Berlin: Professor of Sociology of Social Policy
• DIW Berlin: Head of Life Course and Inequality Research Group

Research Interests:
Lersch investigates social inequalities across life courses, focusing on family dynamics, wealth distribution, and labor market outcomes. He leverages longitudinal survey data to analyze how institutional contexts (e.g., policy frameworks) shape financial investments, occupational mobility, and cohabitation/marriage stability.

Publications & Projects:
He has published in top-tier journals like American Sociological Review and Socio-Economic Review, covering topics such as assortative mating, class origin effects on wealth, and demographic trends in inequality. Current projects include DECIPHE (intergenerational homeownership persistence) and WEALTHTRAJECT (wealth accumulation trajectories).