Social Mobility in European Cities
CALL FOR TENDERS FROM URBAN RESEARCHERS
One of Europe’s five key strategic goals, as agreed in the Europe 2020 strategy is:
To reduce the number of Europeans living below national poverty lines by 25%, lifting 20 million people out of poverty.
We know that poverty is concentrated in cities, and that even the most prosperous cities have disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Indeed history shows that cities actually attract poor people, by the opportunities they offer for work and advancement. Across the world economic development and urbanisation have gone hand in hand, and cities have functioned as infrastructures not just for trade and services but also for social mobility.
Through education, training and work, city dwellers can acquire skills and income as well as social capital in the form of friends, families, co-workers, contacts and networks. All this assists social mobility: in the words of Ed Glaeser, cities provide “pathways out of poverty” (Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Healthier and Happier, Penguin Press, 2011).
Clearly however the picture is rather more complex. What is evident during times and places of rapid urbanisation may be more difficult to discern in more mature economic circumstances. Evidently European cities attract highly skilled migrants as well as people with very few resources. While cities provide opportunities for upward mobility for some, we also know that others are likely to struggle to make their way out of poverty, and that such disadvantage is reproduced generationally. If cities are ‘machines’ for improving life chances, they do not necessarily work effectively for all.
Through this research we wish to throw some light on the following questions:
- What are the current patterns of social mobility in European cities?
- What are the factors and public policies that affect the incidence of social mobility?
- What evidence is there that European cities provide ‘pathways out of poverty’?
Tasks to be carried out by the contractor
(1) To review existing research and examine aggregate data where available in order to
quantify the incidence and extent of social mobility across EU member states.
(2) To investigate whether we can discern different patterns of social mobility
between urban and rural territories in Europe, and large cities in particular.
(3) To analyse whether there are contextual factors or public policy choices that particularly promote or inhibit social mobility.
(4) To analyse to what extent the ‘pathways out of poverty’ claim is applicable to contemporary European cities.
Timeline and outputs
All communications and outputs are required to be in English.
The contract start date is 1 April 2012. Before 1 May 2012 the contractor will attend a
kick-off meeting with the EUROCITIES steering group (proposed for Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 10:00 in Brussels) to discuss in more detail the approach and methodology for the research.
Before the end of July 2012 the contractor will make an interim, progress report to the steering group.
A draft final report will be delivered for review by the steering group before the end of September 2012. The contractor will be required to take on board all reasonable input from the steering group.
The final research report:
- Must be delivered electronically to EUROCITIES by 31 October 2012;
- Must be error-free, with all language, grammar, expression and spelling thoroughly proofed and ‘copy-ready’;
- Must be cleared by the steering group before publication or dissemination;
- Must comprise no more than 30 pages, beginning with an executive summary of at most two pages (this limit excludes any annexes);
- Must show the European flag and the EUROCITIES logo;
- Must include a statement that the research has been funded by the European Commission through the PROGRESS programme (text to be provided by EUROCITIES).
EUROCITIES and the European Commission will be free to publish, disseminate, cite or otherwise use the report in full or in part, along with all background findings and
supporting data. The contractor, EUROCITIES, the European Commission and the PROGRESS programme shall be credited in all dissemination, including that undertaken by
the contractor.
The contractor may also be invited to present draft or final research results to EUROCITIES members participating in one of our forums and/or working groups.
Financial conditions
The implementation is based on a direct contract between EUROCITIES ASBL (Brussels) and the contractor. The maximum budget for this project is €20,000 including any VAT and all
expenses. However travel and accommodation costs associated with any agreed attendance at EUROCITIES working groups or forums will be met separately and in addition.
The maximum daily rates for experts are as follows:
- Over 7 years’ experience: €500
- 5-7 years’ experience: €400
- Less than 5 years’ experience: €350
50% of the agreed contract price may be invoiced to EUROCITIES for payment at the time of the interim progress report (i.e. before the end of July 2012). The balance is payable once the final report has been submitted and cleared by the steering group.
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