Over-indebtedness in the Middle Class after Insolvency

Self-financed project Süddeutsches Institut für empirische Sozialforschung e. V.| Area: Soziale Arbeit & Soziale Risiken

Realization: SINE e.V. in cooperation mit der University of Applied Science Kempten

Content and objectives of the study |

Building on the DFG project “Over-indebtedness in the middle class”, which was carried out at the University of Duisburg-Essen from 2012 to 2015, SINE, in cooperation with Kempten University of Applied Sciences, is investigating in this follow-up project the effects associated with over-indebtedness and the relevance of (the onset and) the end of insolvency proceedings for those affected.

The aim is to use a survey (in the fourth wave) and the resulting longitudinal perspective to gain an insight into the patterns of action and interpretation of over-indebted people beyond the insolvency phase and to record the extent to which insolvency is perceived as a biographical marker by those affected and influences their actions over the course of their lives.

Methodisches Vorgehen |

• Surveys of a selection of participants in the project ‘Over-indebtedness in the middle class’ in the fourth wave (after 8 years / qualitative panel survey)
• Conducting guided online interviews with couples and individuals
• Evaluation based on grounded theory methodology; lifeworld analyses, case analyses, panel analyses

For further information and publication, see: Project page ‘Überschuldung‘.

Zeitraum: 2020 – 2024

Responsible | Prof. Dr. Marion Müller und Prof. Dr. Patricia Pfeil (HS Kempten)