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 capitalisms.

Prize submissions should be sent to sabina.avdagic.sase.prize@proton.me and include both the conference paper and a CV. Co-authored papers are eligible if the lead author is an early-career scholar.

We strongly encourage submissions from PhD students and early-career researchers, especially from underrepresented or marginalized groups in the field, and invite colleagues to share this announcement with their networks.

For inquiries, please contact the Network E coordinators:

• Aidan Regan (University College Dublin): aidan.regan@ucd.ie

• Chiara Benassi (University of Bologna): chiara.benassi13@unibo.it

• Alexandre Afonso (Leiden University): a.afonso@fgga.leidenuniv.nl

• Palma Polyak (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies): palma.polyak@mpifg.de

2025 Winners

• Masoud Movahed (University of Pennsylvania)
  Varieties of Capitalism and Wealth Inequality

• Dongwoo 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 countries

• Alessia 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.