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• Publish Date：2015/09/02
  Modify Date：2026/05/28

Social Development and Policy in the US and Europe

Project coordinator: Huijing Wu (Aug 2025-Jul 2027)

Project members: Min-Hsiung Huang, Der-Chin Horng, Chi-Tsun Chiu, Huijing Wu, Tuo-Yu Chen

History of Social Development and Policy in the US and Europe Project

1996

Recognizing the integrative and interdisciplinary nature of public policy in the humanities and social sciences, Dr. Jiun-Han Tsao initiated the formation of an interdisciplinary research group. This project brings together researchers from diverse fields within IEAS to collaborate on in-depth studies of European and American public policies, advancing innovative research on key issues.

1998

This research project was formally established in June 1998, with Dr. Jiun-Han Tsao serving as the first project coordinator and “gender equality in Europe and the US” as the primary research focus. In addition to its research implications, the project was also expected to serve as a bridge in the policy-making process.

2008

In response to suggestions from the Advisory Committee, this project planned to redirect its research focus toward social development and public policy.

2013

This research project, renamed “Social Development and Policy in the US and Europe” in 2013, aims to bring together researchers from various social science disciplines to examine contemporary trends, challenges, and dilemmas in social development within European and American societies.

2018-present

The research project continues to pursue interdisciplinary research and collaborates with scholars from various professional fields who share interests in the social sciences. In recent years, research has focused on issues such as population aging, social stratification, health, life expectancy, and legal regulations in Europe and the US. Moreover, members of this group have expanded their research to include Taiwanese society, aiming to provide insights and future implications.

Project Members and Fields of Expertise

Current research members

Min-Hsiung Huang (Sociology):  Social Stratification, Sociology of Education

Der-Chin Horng (Law):                EU AI Legal Control, COVID-19 Response, Climate Change, Energy Crisis, Circular Economy

Chi-Tsun Chiu (Sociology):          Healthy Life Expectancy, Health Disparities, Mortality

Huijing Wu (Sociology):               Aging and the Life Course, Gender, Demography, Family Studies, Quantitative research methods, Cross-national comparative study

Tuo-Yu Chen (Gerontology):       The health and health behaviors of the aging population in the United States, Sleep health, Social determinants of health, Disability and physical performance,

                                                    The health and occupational well-being of older workers

Retired research members (2021-2026)

Lee-Joy Cheng (Sociology):     Social Welfare Policy Studies, Family Policy Studies, Maternity Leave Policy Studies, Gender and Equality Studies, Immigration Policy Studies

Chyong-Fang Ko (Sociology):  Sociology, Social demography

Rueyling Tzeng (Sociology):    International Migration, Organizational Sociology, Economic Sociology

Chern Chen (History):              History of German-Taiwan Relation, Modern Military History of Germany

Wen-Ling Huang (History):       American History, Women’s Voluntary Association in the US, Afro-American Woman Study

Project Development and Objectives

1998-2007

• Conducting research on gender equality in Europe and the US, with a focus on ensuring equal working rights and examining ethical norms, workplace sexual harassment, equal pay for equal work, and social security.
• Collaborating on governmental policy implementation to gradually establish relevant legislation, such as the Act of Gender Equality in Employment and the Employment Services Act in Taiwan.

2008-2018

• Major research topics for the project group include population structure and family policy in Europe and the US, public governance, and transitional justice in Europe.
• Personal research dimensions: gender issues, social welfare, historical research, demography, education, and social stratification.
• Cooperative research dimensions: gender equality.

2019-2025

• Major research topics for the project group include population and family issues as well as social stratification in Europe and the US.
• Personal research dimensions: historical research, education and social stratification, demography, and health issues.
• Special research project: COVID-19

2026-present

• The project group’s major research topics continue to focus on population shifts, family issues, and social stratification in Europe and the US.
• Personal research plans include education and social stratification, demography, health, aging studies/gerontology, and European Union studies.

Research Activities and Outcomes

2007-2016

• Held an international conference on changes in family structure and social studies in Europe and the US.
• Held domestic conferences on constitutional systems and reforms in Europe and the US, and global perspectives on family and health issues.
• Held seminars and gave invited talks on topics such as employee acts; gender, family, and work environment; gender equality; labor-management relations; the Paris Agreement; the impact of immigration on the Obama healthcare policy; and the history of postwar internment camps.
• Research directions of newly appointed researchers: demography, immigration, and governance.
• Publications: books, book chapters, seminar papers, and journal articles in SSCI, TSSCI, THCI, AHCI, Scopus, and CSSCI journals.
• Research projects granted by NSTC, Academia Sinica, and other institutions.

2019-2025

• Held an international conference on family, health, and education.
• Held seminars focused on social status, family and family caregiving, and workplace bullying.
• Publications: books, book chapters, seminar papers, and journal articles in SSCI, TSSCI, THCI, AHCI, Scopus, and CSSCI journals.
• Research projects granted by NSTC, Academia Sinica, and other institutions.

2026-present

• Planning to hold an international conference in 2026 to discuss issues related to family, health, and education.
• Planning to hold a seminar in 2026 on older adults’ health and caregiving.
• Publications: journal articles.
• Research projects granted by NSTC, Academia Sinica, and other institutions.

*Detailed information about our members can be found on their personal webpages.

Research, Training, and Professional Development for Students and Postdocs

Our project group has provided training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students by involving them as research assistants working with group members. We also provide a supportive environment for postdoctoral researchers at the start of their academic careers.

In terms of career development, some postdoctoral researchers go on to work at universities in Taiwan, while others, after serving as research assistants, pursue master’s or doctoral degrees at prestigious universities worldwide, such as Sociology at Purdue University and Education at Harvard University.

Postdoctoral Fellow

2026-2027: Diana Alma Taya (Collaborating with Dr. Chi-Tsun Chiu)

Future Research Direction

This research project seeks to advance scholarly understanding of cultural differences and broaden perspectives, offering valuable insights for interpreting social phenomena and informing institutional development in Taiwan.

The project will maintain its core research on population, family, social stratification, health, and governance, while also pursuing new topics and areas in demography, family studies, gerontology, and social stratification. The following outlines two major research directions:

Demography and family research in Europe and the US

Over the past decades, the aging population has presented various challenges for aging societies. In response, this research project will examine the health and life expectancy of older adults, as well as how family and socioeconomic factors shape their health, well-being, and care needs.

Social stratification in Europe and the US

In research on educational inequality, this study will conduct cross-national analyses of how Taiwan's examination systems affect students’ academic performance and equality of educational opportunity. Additional comparative analyses across societies will also examine students’ involvement in supplementary education outside school, diversity among schools, and the effects of compensatory advantage. The research is expected to yield policy implications that may help reduce educational inequality.