Professor Walter Korpi Passes Away at 90

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of an outstanding sociologist and a vital contributor to SOFI’s success. Professor Emeritus Walter Korpi passed away on November 19, at the age of 90.

Photo of Walter Korpi and the text Walter Korpi 1934–2024
Professor Emeritus Walter Korpi 1934–2024

Walter Korpi became a Professor of Social Policy in 1972 and was part of the group of professors who laid the foundations for SOFI. Among his numerous important contributions, Walter Korpi developed the Power Resource theory and laid the basis for the SCIP database, which describes the development of social security programs in the OECD countries from 1930 onwards (later evolving into the SPIN database).
 
Walter Korpi’s work has had a profound impact on the field of sociology and social policy. Beyond his groundbreaking academic contributions, he has been a source of inspiration for and contributed to the success of many scholars, both within and outside SOFI.

He will be greatly missed.

Marie Evertsson
Director of The Swedish Institute for Social Research