Biography - Carlos Javier Gil Hernández

Carlos J. Gil Hernández works as a Social Scientist at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Studies, in the project `Social Classes in the Digital Age´ (DIGCLASS). DIGCLASS explores the implications of the digital revolution for class inequalities—in education, jobs, wages, wealth and health—and political attitudes, identifying new social protection policies to reduce inequality of opportunity and outcomes and foster more inclusive economic growth.

Carlos has a background as a quantitative sociologist, carrying out theoretically-driven empirical research with interdisciplinary interests in social stratification, income inequality, skill formation, and social policy. He defended his PhD thesis on intergenerational educational inequality at the European University Institute (EUI), including a visiting fellowship at the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre within the ERC EFFORT project, and the European Consortium for Sociological Research (ECSR) Prize for best PhD thesis in 2021. Carlos also holds a Master of Research in Sociology and Demography at the Pompeu Fabra University, a Master of Science in Sociology at Tilburg University, and a Master of Research in Political and Social Sciences at the EUI.

Before joining the European Commission, Carlos worked as a research fellow at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Trento on projects on the impact of digital devices on child mental health and the measurement of equality of opportunity. During his postgraduate studies, he worked as a research assistant at Tilburg University (around the European Values Study and an international volume on social mobility), as an external consultant for the EUROFOUND, and research assistant at the EUI on the geography of social mobility in Europe.

The role of institutional factors in the intersection between labour markets, welfare states and families is a central concern in his research. Thus, he is interested in designing more effective social policies. Accordingly, he has recently participated in an expert commission on social inequality appointed by the Foresight Unit of the Spanish Government to produce a report (España 2050) requested by the Prime Minister.

Carlos’ work has been widely covered in media and published in journals and editorials such as Sociology of Education, European Sociological Review, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, Work, Employment & Society, American Behavioral Scientist, Demographic Research, and Stanford University Press.

Media (in Spanish)

Interview about my PhD thesis in El Confidencial (Newspaper): https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2021-10-19/mejor-tesis-ano-nazareno-meritocracia_3306618/

Coverage of my PhD thesis in LASEXTA Clave (TV): https://www.lasexta.com/programas/lasexta-clave/estudio-que-desenmascara-trampa-meritocracia-movilidad-social-depende-solo-talento_2021102561771aaa0fa89c0001ce2f4d.html

Interview about my PhD thesis in Cadena Ser (Radio):
https://cadenaser.com/audio/1635175656132/

Video about meritocracy based on my PhD thesis by Spanish Revolution:
https://youtu.be/ETOOWqPT7Zg

Interview about my thesis on Radio W Colombia:
https://youtu.be/peJu02qN2J8

Presentation of my PhD thesis at the University of Seville: https://youtu.be/Q8JG0L_yxVI

Debate with César Rendueles on meritocracy organized by ATTAC: https://youtu.be/fLHGSqXW2lo

Interview about my PhD thesis in REDES:
https://www.ivoox.com/en/entrevista-sociologo-carlos-gil-hernandez-audios-mp3_rf_78211195_1.html

Article in Diario.es about the class gap in the labour market: https://www.eldiario.es/piedrasdepapel/astilla-profesiones-heredan-padres-espana_132_1955084.html

Article in AgendaPública-ELPAÍS about class voting in Catalonia: https://agendapublica.elpais.com/noticia/13827/pela-es-pela-renta-clase-social-secesionismo