My research interests are in the field of comparative social policy, with a particular focus on analysing the causes of policy continuity and change across time and across countries. My interests are not bounded by a particularly disciplinary focus but draw on perspectives from social and public policy, political science and sociology.

Thematically, my research focuses on the intersection between families, labour markets and social policy and the ways in which broad social and demographic trends have affected all three areas. This has involved a primary focus on family policies in comparative perspective, but also research into wider ‘social investment’ policy areas, such as post-school skill formation systems. My current interests focus on the impact that increasing labour market inequalities has on families with children and the support provided by governments for reconciling employment and care responsibilities.

Theoretically I have a particular interest in the role that ideas play in processes of change, especially through their influence on the formation of cross-class coalitions that drive change, and the historical, institutional and political conditions under which this is more or less likely to occur. Geographically my research has focused on OECD countries both in Europe and East Asia.

My work in these areas have been published in Government and Opposition, the Journal of Family Studies, Economy and Society and Social Policy & Administration.

My ESRC-funded PhD thesis, completed in 2021 at the London School of Economics (LSE), compared work-family policy reforms in Germany and the UK and examined the drivers of change in the two countries. Through documentary analysis and interviews with policymakers, I focused in particular on the role of ideas in the processes of policy change and the ways in which this affected the respective trajectories of change.