This volume of "Comparative Social Research" emphasizes unsolved issues and new developments within class and stratification analysis, discussing both theoretical and methodological innovations and revisions. Studies of social stratification comprises a range of topics, such as social mobility, economic inequality, labor market inequalities, ethnic stratification, gender inequality, family patterns, educational attainment, and health inequality, the stratification of cultural consumption, life styles, values and attitudes. Comparative analysis has also revealed cross-national differentiation in stratification processes, partly related to welfare state arrangements and national policies. Yet all academic fields move forward, and with its vital research community social stratification research also engages in efforts to improve stratification analysis. This involves discussions on theoretical definitions and conceptual clarifications, social mechanisms and modeling techniques and measurements.
