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Staffan Kumlin

Image of Staffan Kumlin
Phone +47 22 85 04 10
Room 717
Available hours By appointment
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Visiting address Moltke Moes vei 31 Eilert Sundts hus 7. etg. 0851 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1097 Blindern 0317 Oslo

Academic interests

Staffan Kumlin's research concerns comparative political behaviour, public opinion, and democracy in European welfare states. His most recent book is the co-authored Election Campaigns and Welfare State Change: Democratic Linkage and Leadership Under Pressure (Oxford UP, 2022). Previous books include The Personal and the Political: How Personal Welfare State Experiences Affect Political Trust and Ideology (Palgrave-Macmillan 2004) and the co-edited How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014). He has also published in numerous scientific journals such as British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, European Journal of Political Research, Journal of European Public Policy, and European Sociological Review. He has authored chapters in numerous edited books including The Oxford Handbook of Political Behavior and The Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State. Kumlin co-designed the "welfare state module" in the 2016 European Social Survey 2016  and is co-author of a textbook on representative democracy called Det politiska spelet. Medborgare, medier och politiker i den representativa demokratin (Studentlitteratur 2014).

Kumlin is Head of PhD studies in political science at UiO and associated researcher at University of Konstanz's Cluster of Excellence The Politics of Inequality

Background

Staffan Kumlin was previously full Professor of political science at University of Gothenburg and Research Professor at Institute for Social Research in Oslo. He has also been employed at Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala University, and spent longer periods as visiting fellow at Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) and at Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute in Florence, and University of Konstanz.

Media

Awards

In 2005 Staffan Kumlin became the first political scientist to receive a Pro Futura Fellowship from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

 

Publications

  • Haugsgjerd, Atle Hennum; Kumlin, Staffan & Linde, Jonas (2026). Politisk tillit under press i Norge? In Bergh, Johannes & Haugsgjerd, Atle Hennum (Ed.), Konflikt og mobilisering. En studie av stortingsvalget 2025. Cappelen Damm AS. ISSN 9788202923822. p. 393–421. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2026). Divorce risk and political distrust: Gendered consequences of couple instability. Acta Sociologica. ISSN 0001-6993. doi: 10.1177/00016993261429680. Full text in Research Archive
  • Goubin, Silke; Jacques, Olivier; Kumlin, Staffan & Weisstanner, David (2026). Why Some Want Something for Nothing: Three Explanations for Unfunded Spending Demand. Scandinavian Political Studies. ISSN 0080-6757. 49(1). doi: 10.1111/1467-9477.70034. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Linde, Jonas (2025). Political Trust in Norway; A Large But Lopsided Research Field. In Kolltveit, Kristoffer; Allern, Elin Haugsgjerd; Braut-Hegghammer, Målfrid & Rasch, Bjørn Erik (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Norwegian Politics. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780198888581. p. 436–454. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198888581.013.0023. Full text in Research Archive
  • Syrstad, Tor Gaute; Haugsgjerd, Atle Hennum & Kumlin, Staffan (2025). Iceberg of discontent? Emotional responses to welfare state development and political trust. Journal of European Social Policy. ISSN 0958-9287. 35(5), p. 500–515. doi: 10.1177/09589287251337883. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Nemcok, Miroslav (2024). Perceiving welfare state sustainability: fiscal costs, group deservingness, or ideology? Journal of Public Policy. ISSN 0143-814X. 44(3), p. 638–658. doi: 10.1017/S0143814X24000126. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan; Nemcok, Miroslav & Hootegem, Arno van (2024). Welfare state evaluations, normative expectations, and political trust: longitudinal evidence from Germany and Norway. Public Management Review. ISSN 1471-9037. doi: 10.1080/14719037.2023.2297292. Full text in Research Archive
  • Finseraas, Henning; Haugsgjerd, Atle Hennum & Kumlin, Staffan (2023). Immigration and welfare state sustainability: whose perception is affected by fiscal cost cues? Journal of European Public Policy. ISSN 1350-1763. doi: 10.1080/13501763.2023.2166572. Full text in Research Archive
  • Goubin, Silke & Kumlin, Staffan (2022). Political Trust and Policy Demand in Changing Welfare States: Building Normative Support and Easing Reform Acceptance? European Sociological Review. ISSN 0266-7215. 38(4), p. 590–604. doi: 10.1093/esr/jcab061. Full text in Research Archive
  • Blok, Lisanne de & Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Losers’ Consent in Changing Welfare States: Output Dissatisfaction, Experienced Voice and Political Distrust. Political Studies. ISSN 0032-3217. p. 1–20. doi: 10.1177/0032321721993646. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan; Goerres, Achim & Spies, Dennis C. (2021). Public Attitudes. In Béland, Daniel; Morgan, Kimberly J.; Obinger, Herbert & Pierson, Christopher (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780198828389. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Quality of Government and Welfare State Support. In Bågenholm, Andreas; Bauhr, Monika; Grimes, Marcia & Rothstein, Bo (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of the Quality of Government. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780198858218. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198858218.013.35. Full text in Research Archive
  • Blok, Lisanne de; Haugsgjerd, Atle & Kumlin, Staffan (2020). Increasingly Connected? Political Distrust and Dissatisfaction with Public Services in Europe, 2008–2016. In Laenen, Tijs; Meuleman, Bart & Oorschot, Wim van (Ed.), Welfare State Legitimacy in Times of Crisis and Austerity. Between Continuity and Change. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781788976299. p. 201–221. Full text in Research Archive
  • Goerres, Achim; Kumlin, Staffan & Karlsen, Rune (2019). Pressure without Pain: What Politicians (Don’t) Tell You about Welfare State Change. Journal of Social Policy. ISSN 0047-2794. 48(4), p. 861–884. doi: 10.1017/S0047279419000138. Full text in Research Archive
  • Haugsgjerd, Atle & Kumlin, Staffan (2019). Downbound spiral? Economic grievances, perceived social protection and political distrust. West European Politics. ISSN 0140-2382. doi: 10.1080/01402382.2019.1596733. Full text in Research Archive
  • Haugsgjerd, Atle & Kumlin, Staffan (2019). Konsensus om den norske velferdsstaten? In Bergh, Johannes & Aardal, Bernt (Ed.), Velgere og valgkamp. En studie av stortingsvalget 2017. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202609719. p. 201–222. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2018). Beyond Crowding In and Out: Why We Need to Study Policy Design in a Communicative Context. Czech Sociological Review. ISSN 1210-3861. 54(6), p. 961–963. Full text in Research Archive
  • Goerres, Achim; Spies, Dennis C. & Kumlin, Staffan (2018). The electoral supporter base of the Alternative for Germany. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft. ISSN 1424-7755. 24(3), p. 246–269. doi: 10.1111/spsr.12306. Full text in Research Archive
  • Goerres, Achim; Karlsen, Rune & Kumlin, Staffan (2018). What Makes People Worry about the Welfare State? A Three-Country Experiment. British Journal of Political Science. ISSN 0007-1234. 50(4), p. 1519–1537. doi: 10.1017/S0007123418000224. Full text in Research Archive
  • Jakobsson, Lars Niklas & Kumlin, Staffan (2017). Election Campaign Agendas, Government Partisanship, and the Welfare State. European Political Science Review. ISSN 1755-7739. 9(2 (May)), p. 183–208. doi: 10.1017/S175577391500034X. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan; Wollebæk, Dag; Fladmoe, Audun & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Leap of Faith or Judgment of Deservingness? Generalized Trust, Trust in Immigrants and Support for the Welfare State. In Oorschot, Wim van; Roosma, Femke; Meuleman, Bart & Reeskens, Tim (Ed.), The Social Legitimacy of Targeted Welfare: Attitudes to welfare Deservingness. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781785367205. p. 281–296. doi: 10.4337/9781785367212.00031. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan; Stadelmann-Steffen, Isabelle & Haugsgjerd, Atle (2017). Trust and the Welfare State. In Uslaner, Eric M. (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Social and Political Trust (online version published January 2017). Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780190274801. p. 385–408. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190274801.013.8. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Haugsgjerd, Atle (2017). The Welfare State and Political Trust: Bringing Performance Back In. In Zmerli, Sonja & Meer, Tom van der (Ed.), Handbook on Political Trust. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781782545101. p. 285–301. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Stadelmann-Steffen, Isabelle (2016). Studying How Policies Affect the People: Grappling with Measurement, Causality, and the Macro-Micro Divide. In Keman, Hans & Woldendorp, Jaap (Ed.), Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Political Science. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781784710811. p. 343–358. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2014). Informed Performance Evaluation of the Welfare State? Experimental and Real-World Findings. In Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (Ed.), How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781782545484. p. 289–310. doi: 10.4337/9781782545491.00023. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (2014). Citizens, Policy Feedback and European Welfare States. In Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (Ed.), How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781782545484. p. 3–16. doi: 10.4337/9781782545491.00007. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (2014). How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Borrowing Strength across Research Communities. In Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (Ed.), How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781782545484. p. 311–325. doi: 10.4337/9781782545491.00025. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2014). Policy Feedback in Political Context: Unemployment Benefits, Election Campaigns, and Democratic Satisfaction. In Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (Ed.), How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781782545484. p. 181–197. doi: 10.4337/9781782545491.00018. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Esaiasson, Peter (2012). Scandal Fatigue? Scandal Elections and Satisfaction with Democracy in Western Europe, 1977–2007. British Journal of Political Science. ISSN 0007-1234. 42, p. 263–282. doi: 10.1017/S000712341100024X. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Per Staffan (2011). Dissatisfied Democrats, Policy Feedback, and European Welfare States, 1976-2001. In Zmerli, Sonja & Hooghe, Marc (Ed.), Political Trust: Why Context Matters. ECPR Press. ISSN 9781907301230. p. 163–186. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Per Staffan (2011). Claiming blame and giving credit? Unintended effects of how government and opposition frame the Europeanization of welfare. European Union Politics. ISSN 1465-1165. 12(4), p. 575–595. doi: 10.1177/1465116511417296. Full text in Research Archive

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  • Kumlin, Staffan & Goerres, Achim (2022). Election Campaigns and Welfare State Change: Democratic Linkage and Leadership Under Pressure. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198869214. 224 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan & Steffen-Stadelmann, Isabelle (2014). How Welfare States Shape the Democratic Public: Policy Feedback, Participation, Voting, and Attitudes. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781782545484. 337 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Johansson, Bengt; Kumlin, Staffan; Naurin, Elin & Wängnerud, Lena (2014). Det politiska spelet : Medborgare, medier och politiker i den representativa demokratin. Studentlitteratur AB. ISBN 9789144080734. 239 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2004). The Personal and the Political. How Personal Welfare State Experiences Affect Political Trust and Ideology. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781403964519. 260 p. Full text in Research Archive

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  • Kumlin, Staffan (2025). Panelsamtale med Fagutvalget ISV/UiO: Valg 2025. Høyrebølge i Norge? Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2024). Möjligheter och gränser för folkstyrelsens förverkligande inom hälso och sjukvården. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2024). Sterk tillit til demokratiet til tross for skandaler. [Internet]. Tendens.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nemcok, Miroslav; Hootegem, Arno Van & Kumlin, Staffan (2024). Unfulfilled Expectations and Unexpected Help: How Initial Risks and Subsequent Welfare Benefits Jointly Shape Political Trust. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2023). Ryktene om venstre-høyrekonfliktens død. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2023). Når systemet skuffer: Tillit til velferdssystemet. [Internet]. nrk.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nemcok, Miroslav; Hootegem, Arno Van & Kumlin, Staffan (2023). Unfulfilled Expectations and Unexpected Help: How Initial Risks and Subsequent Welfare Benefits Jointly Shape Political Trust. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Hva er tillit, og hva betyr det for velferdsstaten? Full text in Research Archive
  • Finseraas, Henning; Haugsgjerd, Atle & Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Immigration Cues and Perceived Welfare State Sustainability: Understanding Variability in Political Reactions to Fiscally Costly Immigration. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Tillit til forvaltningen og myndighetene. Hearing med OECD i samarbeid med Direktorat for forvaltning og økonomistyring v/Avdeling for forvaltningsanalyse (APA). Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Political Trust and Policy Demand in Changing Welfare States. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2021). Political Trust in Changing Welfare States: Bringing Performance Back In. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2020). Kenneth Newton: Surprising News: How the Media Affect—and Do Not—Affect—Politics. Czech Sociological Review. ISSN 1210-3861. 56(3), p. 419–421. Full text in Research Archive
  • Silke, Goubin & Kumlin, Staffan (2020). The Dual Function of Political Trust in Changing Welfare States: Building Normative Support and Easing Reform Acceptance. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kumlin, Staffan (2017). Could the Political Consequences of Class Marginalization Be Different? The Political Quarterly. ISSN 0032-3179. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Nov. 17, 2016 10:25 AM - Last modified Apr. 29, 2026 1:55 PM