In memory of Dr. Sabina Avdagic, the SASE Network E (Comparative Capitalisms) is honored to announce the establishment of the Sabina Avdagic Early Career Scholar Prize for Best Paper in Comparative Capitalism.
The prize recognizes outstanding work by early-career researchers in comparative political economy and reflects Dr. Avdagic’s deep commitment to mentoring young scholars. It also honors her influential contributions to the study of labor markets, welfare states, and the broader comparative political economy.
Dr. Avdagic, Reader in Political Economy at the University of Sussex, was an inspiring figure whose scholarship, mentorship, and dedication to the discipline continue to shape the field. Her rigorous and innovative work, and her generosity toward colleagues and students alike, have left a lasting impact on SASE and the study of comparative capitalism.
2026 Winners
Tommaso Crescioli (Prometeia/LSE) & Toon Van Overbeke (Maastricht University)
Rising Market Power and its Political Discontent
2026 Honorable Mentions
José Luis Gallegos Quezada, Tal Simons & Rebecca Hewett (all authors are based at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University)
Disputing the Future of Work: How Workers Shape the Organizational Effects of Automation
2025 Winners
Masoud Movahed (University of Pennsylvania)
Varieties of Capitalism and Wealth InequalityDongwoo Park (Cornell University)
The Making of an Unjust Transition: Examining Union Internal Politics and Battery Electric Vehicle Transition
2025 Honorable Mentions
Solhee Han (Oxford University)
New Welfare Regimes: Diverse Tax and Welfare Instruments under Fiscal Pressure in OECD countriesAlessia Aspide (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies) with Matt DiGiuseppe
The Mass Politics of Public Debt, Immigration, and Austerity
We warmly congratulate the winners and honorable mentions, and we thank all those who submitted their work for consideration. Their contributions reflect the spirit of inquiry and engagement that continues to strengthen the SASE community.