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Car­oline de la Porte

Professor

Subjects
Job market Welfare Gender Work-life balance EU Politics

Primary research areas

Work-life balance

AGILE, funded as a core group by the VELUX foundation, is a multi-year project analysing the government policies, business practices, and citizen perspectives that shape work-life balance in advanced industrial economies. With record-high employment rates and shorter working weeks, we are witnessing a significant shift in how work and personal life intersect. AGILE collects original survey data across countries to analyse citizen and worker perspectives, and, via various qualitative data, delves into work-life balance in different sectors across 4 countries. Finally, it will develop a teaching case of relevance for business school students.

EU Social Policy

This research, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation, focuses on how the EU increasingly develops policy at the intersection of labour markets and social policy. It focuses more specifically on the EU’s work-life balance directive, examining citizen perspectives, as well as the politics behind the implementation across member states. It then examines implementation and how it reshapes the politics of parental leave. Finally, it considers outcomes across member states.

Public Opinion meets Institutions

This research examines how citizens view public policy options and choices across various areas, focused on grand societal challenges in 11 countries. This includes demographic aging, war, climate change, digitalization. Various authors are working on papers from this data, and a special issue on this topic is being prepared for the journal Policy & Society.

My research often involves policy analysis, and therefore, the findings are relevant for stakeholders, which can be employer organisations and trade unions and policy-makers. I am particularly interested in demographic aging, and the types of solutions th

My research in European political economy covers the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) – including the fiscal dimension - as well as labour market and social policy. In recent years, my work has also focused on the Nordic welfare model, especially in work-life balance policy. I am PI on ‘AGILE work-life balance’ (2025 – 2029), funded by the Velux foundation. I have had leading roles in numerous international collaborations, including the EU social citizenship project (funded by EU-Horizon) focusing on fair working conditions, and Reimagining Norden in an Evolving World (ReNEW), focusing on gender equality and labour markets. I teach and supervise on a wide range of topics related to comparative politics, and public policy. Methodologically, I specialize in in-depth and comparative qualitative analyses as well as mixed methods. I am active on numerous international boards as member or chairperson. Currently, I am chair of the Danish selection committee for the college of Europe, and of the Danish welfare studies research network, Velnet.  


My research: 

provides stakeholders, inculding businesses, with insights about work-life balance oplicy and practice across countries  

Focuses on the role of parental leave for enabling work-life balance 

Focuses on citizens perspectives on work-life balance 

Examines European Union policy and politics in public policy 

Recent research projects

AGILE work-life balance

This multi-year project, financed by the VELUX foundation, focuses on how work-life and leisure are prioritized and combined in different countries. Firstly, it highlights citizen perspectives on work-life balance (including leisure) in particular what their demands and preference are. Secondly, it analyses the extent to which EU regulation and policy facilitates work-life balance policy in different countries. Thirdly, it analyses how firms in different sectors (and in different countries) enable or hinder work-life balance.
AGILE project homepage

The EU’s Social Paradox

This monograph project – funded by the Carlsberg Foundation – focuses on the challenges, because member states have most authority in labor market and social policy, and the achievements at EU level. It also examines the implementation, as well as whether the new EU social rights lead to a level playing field in member states or to differentiated and perhaps more inequality in social rights.

Outside activities

Emory University, 2025–present

Guest lecture for business school students, Copenhagen Business School

Lappeenranta University, 2025–present

Advisor, writing of competitive grant application, Copenhagen Business School and Lappeenranta

Lund University, 2025–present

Reviewer for applicants, online