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Key research themes
1. How does hierarchical power shape income and class among economic elites?
This research theme investigates the structural basis of economic elites' income and class by examining the role of hierarchical power—the control over subordinates within organizational hierarchies—as a key explanatory variable. It challenges traditional economic views that attribute elite income primarily to productivity or market randomness, by introducing a measurable power dimension. Understanding this relationship improves insights into income inequality and class formation within elite groups, addressing methodological challenges in quantifying power's impact on economic outcomes.
Key finding: This paper empirically finds that among US CEOs, income size and the capitalist portion of income increase with hierarchical power, defined quantitatively as control over subordinates. The study further models that this... Read more
Key finding: By comparing top CEOs across countries, particularly focusing on Denmark, this research reveals that while elite reproduction often involves elite education and social background, Danish business elites rely more on... Read more
Key finding: Using network analysis of French corporate elites, this study shows that a subset of 'hyper-agents' with extensive bridging ties across corporate and non-corporate networks possess disproportionate power. These hyper-agents'... Read more
Key finding: Through interviews and demographic analysis of UK CEOs, this research uncovers that despite declining importance of traditional elite mechanisms like exclusive education and club membership, class cohesion persists via... Read more
2. What institutional and historical factors determine elite rivalry and its impact on governance?
This theme focuses on identifying the macro-level determinants and transmission channels of elite rivalry—the competition among political and economic elites over power—and how these rivalries influence institutional quality and economic development. By integrating empirical analysis across multiple countries, research in this area sheds light on the complex interplay between social, political, economic, and historical conditions that foster either cooperation or antagonism among elites, with important implications for policy stability and governance efficacy.
Key finding: Using a large panel dataset of 124 countries (1984-2012), this paper finds that higher income levels, human capital, and effective checks-and-balances reduce elite rivalry, whereas natural resource rents and colonization... Read more
Key finding: This study of Slovenia’s post-communist elite configuration demonstrates that the dominant faction’s cultural profile and intra-elite relationships critically affected the choice of a national-type capitalism, characterized... Read more
Key finding: This research evidences a pronounced legitimacy gap between elites and citizens regarding international organizations across five countries, revealing elite sectors and countries where rivalry and differing perceptions are... Read more
3. How do elite status, networks, and field-specific dynamics influence social change and legitimacy in elite groups?
Research under this theme explores how elite positionality, embedded social networks, and institutional fields shape elites’ capacity to influence policy outcomes, maintain legitimacy, and reproduce power. The theme encompasses methodological approaches to interviewing elites, the role of elite cohesion and class consciousness, and the sociological frameworks—such as Bourdieu’s field theory—employed to understand varying levels of elite influence across social domains. This line of inquiry informs on the mechanisms through which elites exert power, sustain social order, or face challenges in democratic and neoliberal contexts.
Key finding: Through a case study of Denver's urban land use redevelopment, this paper shows how a wealthy elite organization successfully influenced policy formation but faced significant resistance during implementation, emphasizing... Read more
Key finding: Methodologically, this work identifies challenges and strategies in accessing, interviewing, and ethically representing elites across diverse social groups. It emphasizes the importance of defining elite status contextually... Read more
Key finding: Analyzing post-financial crisis financial elites, this paper argues that neoliberalism has eroded traditional juridical elite power, replacing conscious judgment with system-embedded intermediary elites operating through data... Read more
Key finding: By conceptualizing civil society elites as influential actors controlling critical resources and networks within NGOs and social organizations, this editorial highlights the growing need to systematically study their... Read more
Key finding: This study's identification of ‘hyper-agents’ within French corporate networks, who act as bridging actors across elite domains, elucidates how social class background and networking aptitude coalesce in producing sustained... Read more