Philipp Staab

Prof. Dr. Philipp Staab is a full professor of Sociology of the Future of Work at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, affiliated with the Einstein Center Digital Future (ECDF). His research lies at the intersection of digital capitalism, labor sociology, and the political economy of technology and artificial intelligence. He holds a PhD from the University of Kassel and has held research and teaching positions at institutions including the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, WZB Berlin, and the University of St. Gallen. Staab is a leading voice in analyzing how digital transformation reshapes labor, power, and governance.

His research focuses on:

• Theoretical foundations of digital capitalism
• Power structures in platform economies and industrial digitalization
• The role of venture capital and financialization in shaping work
• The political economy of artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty
• The transformation of the public sphere in the digital age
• The social implications of green and digital transitions

Staab’s recent publications explore the geopolitical dimensions of technology, sustainable digital market design, and the crisis of legitimacy in green capitalism. His work reveals patterns of increasing control, inequality, and state intervention in digital economies. He leads a collaborative research environment with multiple assistants and contributes to public discourse through books, policy papers, and media engagement.

Notable recognitions include:

• Hans Matthöfer Prize for Business Journalism (2021)
• Named one of 'Germany’s 30 by 2030' by WirtschaftsWoche (2024)

Staab advises on digital and labor policy and is involved in interdisciplinary research networks. He supervises a team of researchers and contributes to academic and public debates on the future of work, digital sovereignty, and ecological transformation.