Biography

Professor Ross Macmillan is the Chair in Sociology at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Queen's University Canada, and the University of Winnipeg. After a short lectureship at Queen's, he joined the faculty in Sociology at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities where he was an assistant professor and then associate professor with tenure. During this time, he undertook training in formal demography at Stanford University and was director of the graduate program in population studies. He then joined the faculty in Policy Analysis and Public Management (now Social and Political Sciences) at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and was the director of the Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics. Subsequent to this, he helped design the PhD in Public Policy and Administration before being appointed its inaugural director.

A sociologist and demographer, his research has focused on crime and victimization, child development and the life course, family relationships, and social epidemiology. His current research focuses on the empowerment/marginality of historically disadvantaged groups and impacts upon population health with a recent paper 'Gender and the Politics of Death' was published in the journal Demography and covered in the UK Times, the Irish Daily Mail, and Clare FM. Alone and in collaboration, his work has been funded by the European Union, the European Research Council, the National Science Foundation (USA), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (USA), and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.


He is the author of almost fifty articles, chapters, books, and reviews and he is among the most cited sociologists of his generation. His most recent work focuses on the uneven patterning of social and economic development with a specific emphasis on empowerment and marginality of subpopulations (e.g., the poor, women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities) and its implications for population health. A recent paper focuses on changes in female political empowerment and its impact on child and maternal mortality with a specific focus on the intervening roles of extent of democracy and socio-economic development.


He is particularly committed to teaching and mentoring. He has supervised or co-supervised over 35 PhD dissertations with students placed and tenured at several top 50 universities. He has also advised or co-advised almost 30 Master's theses with recent PhD placements at Cambridge, Duke, European University Institute, Harvard, Indiana University, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Oxford, Princeton, and Wisconsin. He frequently co-authors with students and currently has almost a dozen peer reviewed papers with former students.


He lectures extensively internationally and has been a consultant or scientific advisor to organisations in Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the United States.

Research Interests

My main area of interest is the political economy of population health with a specific interest in the empowerment/marginization of groups in society and its impact on mortality risks. I also have interests in the sociology of the life course, stratification and social mobility, and research methods.

Peer Reviewed Journals

2022

Explaining the Occupational Structure of Depressive Symptoms: Precarious Work and Social Marginality across European Countries

Macmillan, R;Shanahan, MJ (2022) Explaining the Occupational Structure of Depressive Symptoms: Precarious Work and Social Marginality across European Countries. THOUSAND OAKS Journal Of Health And Social Behavior

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2021

Why PrecariousWork Is Bad for Health: Social Marginality as Key Mechanisms in a Multi-National Context

Macmillan, R;Shanahan, MJ (2021) Why PrecariousWork Is Bad for Health: Social Marginality as Key Mechanisms in a Multi-National Context. CARY : OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC Social Forces :821-851

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2020

Causality in life course research: the potential use of 'natural experiments' for causal inference

Macmillan, R;Hannan, C (2020) Causality in life course research: the potential use of 'natural experiments' for causal inference. BRISTOL : BRISTOL UNIV PRESS & POLICY PRESS Longitudinal And Life Course Studies :7-25

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2019

Until work do us part: Labour migration and occupational stratification in non-cohabiting marriage

Ferrari G.;Macmillan R. (2019) Until work do us part: Labour migration and occupational stratification in non-cohabiting marriage. Population Studies

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2019

Until Work do up part: Labour mobility and risks of non-cohabiting marriage in a global context

Giulia Ferrari & Ross Macmillan (2019) Until Work do up part: Labour mobility and risks of non-cohabiting marriage in a global context. UK Population Studies-A Journal Of Demography

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2018

Disability and the transition to adulthood: A life course contingency perspective

Erickson, Gina and Macmillan, Ross (2018) Disability and the transition to adulthood: A life course contingency perspective. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies :188-211

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2018

Gender and the Politics of Death: Female Representation, Political and Developmental Context, and Population Health in a Cross-National Panel

Macmillan, R;Shofia, N;Sigle, W (2018) Gender and the Politics of Death: Female Representation, Political and Developmental Context, and Population Health in a Cross-National Panel. NEW YORK : SPRINGER Demography :1905-1934

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2018

Gender and the politics of death: Female Representation, Political and Developmental Context, and Population Health in a Cross-National Panel

R Macmillan, N Shofia, W Sigle (2018) Gender and the politics of death: Female Representation, Political and Developmental Context, and Population Health in a Cross-National Panel. United States Demography :1905-1934

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2016

Parental and adolescent health behaviors and pathways to adulthood

Bauldry, Shawn and Shanahan, Michael J and Macmillan, Ross and Miech, Richard A and Boardman, Jason D and Dean, Danielle O and Cole, Veronica (2016) Parental and adolescent health behaviors and pathways to adulthood. Social science research :227-242

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2016

Schooling, skills, and self-rated health: A test of conventional wisdom on the relationship between educational attainment and health

Duke, Naomi and Macmillan, Ross (2016) Schooling, skills, and self-rated health: A test of conventional wisdom on the relationship between educational attainment and health. Sociology of education :171-206

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2014

Personality and the reproduction of social class

Shanahan, Michael J and Bauldry, Shawn and Roberts, Brent W and Macmillan, Ross and Russo, Rosemary (2014) Personality and the reproduction of social class. Social Forces :209-240

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2012

A life course model of self-rated health through adolescence and young adulthood

Bauldry, Shawn and Shanahan, Michael J and Boardman, Jason D and Miech, Richard A and Macmillan, Ross (2012) A life course model of self-rated health through adolescence and young adulthood. Social science & medicine :1311-1320

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2012

The association between parent’s health and the educational attainment of their children

Boardman, Jason D and Alexander, Kari B and Miech, Richard A and MacMillan, Ross and Shanahan, Michael J (2012) The association between parent’s health and the educational attainment of their children. Social Science & Medicine :932-939

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2012

The transcendence of violence across relationships: New methods for understanding men’s and women’s experiences of intimate partner violence across the life course

Carbone-Lopez, Kristin and Rennison, Callie Marie and Macmillan, Ross (2012) The transcendence of violence across relationships: New methods for understanding men’s and women’s experiences of intimate partner violence across the life course. Journal of quantitative criminology :319-346

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2011

Trends in the Association of Obesity and Self-Reported Overall Health in 30 Years of the Integrated Health Interview Series

Macmillan, Ross and Duke, Naomi and Oakes, J Michael and Liao, Wenjie (2011) Trends in the Association of Obesity and Self-Reported Overall Health in 30 Years of the Integrated Health Interview Series. Obesity :1103-1105

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2009

a game you can't win

Macmillan, Ross and Page, Joshua (2009) a game you can't win. Contexts :70-72

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2008

Tales of the Heat: Heat Wave: Dramatis Calamitas

Macmillan, Ross and Hedberg, EC (2008) Tales of the Heat: Heat Wave: Dramatis Calamitas. Contexts :64-67

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2007

The context of marriage and crime: Gender, the propensity to marry, and offending in early adulthood

King, Ryan D and Massoglia, Michael and MacMillan, Ross (2007) The context of marriage and crime: Gender, the propensity to marry, and offending in early adulthood. Criminology :33-65

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2006

Patterns of intimate partner violence and their associations with physical health, psychological distress, and substance use

Carbone-L'opez, Kristin and Kruttschnitt, Candace and Macmillan, Ross (2006) Patterns of intimate partner violence and their associations with physical health, psychological distress, and substance use. Public health reports :382-392

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2005

Families in the life course: Interdependency of roles, role configurations, and pathways

Macmillan, Ross and Copher, Ronda (2005) Families in the life course: Interdependency of roles, role configurations, and pathways. Journal of Marriage and Family :858-879

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2004

Violence in the transition to adulthood: Adolescent victimization, education, and socioeconomic attainment in later life

Macmillan, Ross and Hagan, John (2004) Violence in the transition to adulthood: Adolescent victimization, education, and socioeconomic attainment in later life. Journal of research on adolescence :127-158

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2004

Linked lives: Stability and change in maternal circumstances and trajectories of antisocial behavior in children

Macmillan, Ross and McMorris, Barbara J and Kruttschnitt, Candace (2004) Linked lives: Stability and change in maternal circumstances and trajectories of antisocial behavior in children. Child Development :205-220

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2001

Violence and the life course: The consequences of victimization for personal and social development

Macmillan, Ross (2001) Violence and the life course: The consequences of victimization for personal and social development. Annual review of sociology :1-22

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2001

Victimization and fear of crime: Re-thinking a classic controversy from a criminal event perspective

Sacco, Vincent F and Macmillan, Ross (2001) Victimization and fear of crime: Re-thinking a classic controversy from a criminal event perspective. The Process and Structure of Crime: Criminal Events and Crime Analysis. Advances in Criminological Theory :213-47

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2000

Adolescent victimization and income deficits in adulthood: rethinking the costs of criminal violence from a life-course perspective

Macmillan, Ross (2000) Adolescent victimization and income deficits in adulthood: rethinking the costs of criminal violence from a life-course perspective. Criminology :553-588

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2000

Experiencing the streets: Harassment and perceptions of safety among women

Macmillan, Ross and Nierobisz, Annette and Welsh, Sandy (2000) Experiencing the streets: Harassment and perceptions of safety among women. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency :306-322

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1999

When she brings home the bacon: Labor-force participation and the risk of spousal violence against women

Macmillan, Ross and Gartner, Rosemary (1999) When she brings home the bacon: Labor-force participation and the risk of spousal violence against women. Journal of Marriage and the Family :947-958

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1997

Just des (s) erts? The racial polarization of perceptions of criminal injustice

Wortley, Scot and Hagan, John and Macmillan, Ross (1997) Just des (s) erts? The racial polarization of perceptions of criminal injustice. Law and Society Review :637-676

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1996

New kid in town: Social capital and the life course effects of family migration on children

Hagan, John and MacMillan, Ross and Wheaton, Blair (1996) New kid in town: Social capital and the life course effects of family migration on children. American sociological review :368-385

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1995

The effect of victim-offender relationship on reporting crimes of violence against women

Gartner, Rosemary and Macmillan, Ross (1995) The effect of victim-offender relationship on reporting crimes of violence against women. Canadian J. Criminology :393-

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1995

Changes in the structure of life courses and the decline of social capital in Canadian society: A time series analysis of property crime rates

Macmillan, Ross (1995) Changes in the structure of life courses and the decline of social capital in Canadian society: A time series analysis of property crime rates. Canadian Journal of Sociology/Cahiers canadiens de sociologie :51-79

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Books

2008

Biography and the Sociological Imagination

Shanahan, Michael J;Macmillan, Ross (2008) Biography and the Sociological Imagination. : Norton

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Book Chapters

2016

The Logic and Practice of Growth Curve Analysis: Modeling Strategies for Life Course Dynamics

Macmillan, Ross and Furstenberg, Frank (2016) The Logic and Practice of Growth Curve Analysis: Modeling Strategies for Life Course Dynamics. : Springer :541-569

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2014

Gender and offending in a life course context

Macmillan, Ross and McCarthy, Bill (2014) Gender and offending in a life course context. : Oxford University Press New York :343-361

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2012

First Principles: Components, Holism, and Context of the Transition to Adulthood

Macmillan, Ross (2012) First Principles: Components, Holism, and Context of the Transition to Adulthood. : Springer :35-44

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2010

Conceptualizing the dynamics of lives and historical times: Life course phenomena, institutional dynamics and sociohistorical change

Macmillan, Ross and Baiocchi, Arturo (2010) Conceptualizing the dynamics of lives and historical times: Life course phenomena, institutional dynamics and sociohistorical change. Social change and human development. Concept and results :73-97

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2006

`Constructing Adulthood¿: Agency and Subjectivity in the Transition to Adulthood

Macmillan, Ross (2006) `Constructing Adulthood¿: Agency and Subjectivity in the Transition to Adulthood. Advances in Life Course Research :3-29

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2006

The violent victimization of women: A life course perspective

Kruttschnitt, Candace and Macmillan, Ross (2006) The violent victimization of women: A life course perspective. Gender and crime: patterns in victimization and offending. New York University Press, New York :139-170

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2005

The structure of the life course: Classic issues and current controversies

Macmillan, Ross (2005) The structure of the life course: Classic issues and current controversies. Advances in life course research :3-24

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2003

Characterizing the life course as role configurations and pathways

Macmillan, Ross and Eliason, Scott R (2003) Characterizing the life course as role configurations and pathways. : Springer :529-554

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2002

Deterrence, Rational Choice, and Criminal Offending: A Consideration of Legal Subjectivity

Massoglia, Michael and Macmillan, Ross (2002) Deterrence, Rational Choice, and Criminal Offending: A Consideration of Legal Subjectivity. Rational Choice and Criminal Behavior: Recent Research and Future Challenges :323-

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Edited Books

2006

Constructing adulthood: Agency and subjectivity in adolescence and adulthood

Macmillan, Ross (2006) Constructing adulthood: Agency and subjectivity in adolescence and adulthood. : Elsevier

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2005

The structure of the life course: Standardized? Individualized? Differentiated?

Macmillan, Ross (2005) The structure of the life course: Standardized? Individualized? Differentiated?. : Elsevier

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Other Journals

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Conference Publications

2012

Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Francisco, CA

Macmillan, Ross and Billari, Francesco and Furstenberg, Frank (2012) Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Francisco, CA. :2-6

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Conference Contributions

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Published Reports

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Editorials

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Reviews

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Publications

2018

Female political empowerment decreases mortality in developing countries

Ross Macmillan, Naila Shofia, Wendy Sigle (2018) Female political empowerment decreases mortality in developing countries. Internations : IUSSP :NA-NA

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2008

Key issues in criminal career research: New analyses of the Cambridge study in delinquent development

Macmillan, Ross (2008) Key issues in criminal career research: New analyses of the Cambridge study in delinquent development. :159-

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