Conference Agenda

How can Big Data and Machine Learning Be Used in Social Science to Measure Well-Being? – The GNH.today

Summary

The IAMO Forum 2025 has a focus on the quality of life and on wellbeing in rural areas. This is at the core of our planned contribution. We here present the results of a research project on ‘Women in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods: Promoting gender equity within and by agricultural programs in Ethiopia’ which was financed by the GIZ, the German development agency. Development is about improving the quality of life of a ‘target group’. Our starting point was that the first thing to be found out (through open methods like narrative interviews and informal conversations rather than questionnaires) was what rural women expect from their lives and what quality of life means to them.

Other themes of the Forum, too, have come to the foreground, like attachment to a place and

migration, or more generally the geography of social relations, e.g. the rural/ urban divide and the distances between the places of origin of spouses and their marital residence.

Our findings are based on stationary anthropological fieldwork of nine researchers in four different regions of highland Ethiopia. Among the problems identified by the rural women, this presentation will focus on time poverty, crops cultivated by women and their importance for food security, and

rural living conditions beyond agriculture.

Economic welfare and subjective well-being are important factors of the quality of life. This research examines relations between wealth and various indicators of well-being, basing on a representative sample of 600 farmers participating in Polish Farm Accountancy Data Network. The results show that the higher the wealth category, the lower declared level of stress of the farmers. The poorest group has the least free time for rest, sleep, meeting friends, going to the cinema or restaurant, and deepening knowledge. Among poor farmers the group declaring rather bad health was much larger than in the other groups, and among the poor nobody declared very good health. The results show that the poor group has in many respects visibly lower results in subjective well-being, while for other wealth groups the results are not so clear

This study investigates the relationship between the improvement of rural living environment improve (TIORLE) and rural residents' subjective well-being (SWB) in rural China. Using data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) using the least square (OLS) and Mediator regression models, this study identifies a positive link between TIORLE and improved SWB among rural residents. The study found that TIORLE plays a significant effect in improving rural residents' earnings and health. Overall, the consequences are most severe for adolescents and plain areas. After separating categories, the influence of harmless sanitary toilet is most visible. The effect of garbage classification and harmless sanitary toilet on young rural residents is very significant. Garbage classification and effective treatment of domestic sewage on plain areas rural residents is very significant. This research proposes three suggestions: further implement TIORLE, orderly improve the overall level of TIORLE, thereby enhancing the SWB of rural residents and promoting common prosperity in spiritual life; while implementing TIORLE, we should attach great importance to the role of rural residents' health and earnings in the SWB effect of TIORLE; enhancing the targeting of TIORLE. TIORLE should implement classified policies, vary from person to person, and be tailored to local conditions, forming an effective mechanism for TIORLE and promoting significant results.

Migration is a transformative process that significantly impacts household dynamics and individual well-being, especially for women left behind. This study examines how migration influences the happiness and subjective well-being of women in migrant households in Punjab, Pakistan. Using data from the 2017–2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), the analysis employs Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to address selection bias and ordinal logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between migration, remittances, and happiness. The results demonstrate that migration positively affects women’s happiness by improving household economic conditions through remittances. However, the findings also reveal regional variations and highlight the influence of factors such as education, safety perceptions, and wealth in mediating these effects. While migration alleviates financial stress, it also places additional emotional and managerial responsibilities on women. These insights underscore the need for policies that balance economic benefits with the social and emotional challenges faced by women left behind, fostering holistic improvements in their quality of life.

Family structure (whether living with parent, parents-in-law, or separately) shapes women left behind empowerment, where women living separately in the absence of their husbands become head of the household and obtain higher decision-making power. However, some claim that once their husband migrates, they are burdened with the dual responsibility of performing task that traditionally associated for woman and those for men. Those who live with parents-in-law in most of the cases are not the primary receivers of the remittances and don’t have clear idea about the amount that was sent. In some cases, women reported having more responsibilities when their husband is present.

The humanization of climate change leaves accelerating consequences of rural out-migration as a pressing challenge. In the Himalayas of India, especially in the Garhwal Himalayas, the unpredictable rainfall patterns, and limited economic opportunities are reshaping human-environment interactions and livelihoods. Climate change has intensified rural out-migration, depopulating many villages in the region. In this changing landscape, women are emerging as key agents of resilience, leading community-driven initiatives to address environmental and economic challenges. The temporal existence of the role of gendered approaches to climate change has emerged as a pathway in addressing migration issues. Gender-sensitive climate adaptation has become one of the most powerful perspectives for promoting community-level development and its role in combating rural out-migration. This study explores how women-led regenerative farming at Marrora Forest Farms in Uttarakhand, India offers a sustainable alternative to migration by restoring degraded land, improving agricultural productivity, and fostering economic stability. Through a gendered lens of climate adaptation, the study highlights the transformative potential of empowering women. It sheds light on how the quality of life can be improved in rural areas, reducing migration pressures and fostering regional stability. This study is guided by a mixed theoretical framework drawing on Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) and Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). Women’s socio-ecological awareness and practices of community-led initiatives showcase women as warriors in these efforts.

“I Choose Croatia” (Biram Hrvatsku) is the title of a policy measure recently launched by the Croatian government to encourage return migration from emigrants to their regions of origin in mostly rural, peripheral parts of the country. Those regions have been affected most by economic decline and shrinking population, both equally cause and effect of years-long, continuous outmigration. Based on the assumption of a nexus between migration and development, the policy measure incentivizes and financially supports entrepreneurial activity of return migrants, to enhance the economic viability, prosperity and quality of life in those regions. Without explicitly stating, it might contribute also to their demographic revitalization.

Slavonia and Baranya, historically Croatia’s agricultural heartland, have faced significant socio-economic challenges since the 1990s. The transition to a market economy, the war during the 1990s, and increasing competition from the European Union have contributed to the region's economic decline and high rural migration rates.

Croatia's agrarian structure is undergoing rapid transformation, with farmland concentration and enlargement leading to the disappearance of small and medium-sized farms. This trend is exacerbated by unfavourable socio-political conditions.

Cooperatives are widely regarded as a viable organizational model for supporting small and medium farms, yet their development in Croatia has been hindered by historical and societal factors. Cooperative traditions were disrupted after World War II, leaving a negative perception of cooperatives despite their economic potential.

A case study of a Croatian cooperative (2008–2019) highlights challenges such as political misunderstandings, competitive pressures, and insufficient managerial expertise, which ultimately led to its dissolution.

The study underscores the potential of cooperatives to address rural migration and strengthen family farming but identifies key barriers to their success. It suggests policy measures to promote cooperative development, improve management capacity, and foster a supportive socio-political environment to revitalize rural areas and stabilize the agrarian structure in Slavonia and Baranya.

Public and political demands for more multifunctional agriculture may challenge farmer identities, especially when these have a strong focus on food production rather than other ecosystem services. Although alignment with farmer identity can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of agri-environmental policy, a comprehensive account of farmer role identity considering the full range of socio-cultural, ecological and economic functions of farming is so far missing.

Operationalizing role identity as the prioritization between multiple societal functions, we aim to describe distinct Perspectives on farmers ideal societal role that exist in the farmer community in Eastern Germany. Thereby, we seek to contribute to the understanding of farmer role identity in the context of the multifunctionality transformation.

We used Q method to collect data from a heterogenous sample of 29 Eastern German farms. In the interviews, we asked respondents to sort 71 functions according to how much they would like to fulfil these in the future if working under optimal conditions, and comment on their sorting decisions. This data was processed using a by-person Principal Component Analysis, yielding three groups of respondents with a corresponding representative Q sort (factor array).

Based on the factor arrays and qualitative data, we present three distinct Perspectives on farmers’ ideal role in society. The results provide important insights into potential policy-related identity conflicts as well as potentials for framings focused on synergies and common objectives.

Review of China’s Rural revitalization: motivation, policies and implications

How does rural-urban migration influence the intergenerational (social) mobility of rural residents in China?

The Impact of Poverty Alleviation Resettlement on the Non-farm Labor Supply：

Evidence from China

Cropland displacement and carbon emissions of grain transport in China

How does social capital influence rural residents’ contribution to public goods? An empirical analysis

Since the release of the 1990 Human Development Report, several multidimensional indices of well-being have been developed. However, most, lack a proper theoretical underpinning, and focus on averages glossing over societal inequality as well as neglecting the least advantaged. We propose a new multidimensional index of well-being—IoW—that builds on systems theory, Amartya Sen’s capability approach and John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice. We base our analysis on the Alkire-Foster method but propose substantial modifications. These changes are implemented using Categorical Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and introducing a measure of dispersion—the inequality penalty—to the aggregation notation to capture societal inequality. Following this modified AF method, we—due to the advantage of flexibility—use synthetic data to illustrate the development of the final index. Thanks to the dynamic properties of the AF method, our results can provide differentiated insights into population sub-groups, revealing which people have the conditions for well-being in society and indicator breakdown, allowing for greater granularity. The IoW has the potential to shape policies that foster holistic development and societal well-being.

In this paper we introduce a measure of well-being efficiency to examine society`s ability to transform its resources into subjective well-being. Our aim is to shift the attention from levels of well-being to countries’ ability to transform their resources into subjective well-being. We use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric method, which measures the relative efficiency of the compared units. Our dataset consists of a balanced panel of 121 countries observed from 2006 to 2023. The output variable is the Life Ladder, which is an evaluation of life based on individuals’ answers about their current lives using a scale (ladder) from 0 to 10. The variables that represent available resources are per capita Gross Domestic product, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom of choice, absence of corruption and generosity - all aggregated at country level. Initial results indicate that countries with a high well-being efficiency are not only those that have a high subjective well-being score (Denmark, Canada, Finland), but also countries such as Costa Rica, Greece and Mexico. At the bottom of the rank, we find mostly African countries (Zimbabwe and Tanzania) or countries that have suffered war or humanitarian crisis (Afghanistan, Yemen). We also find that well-being efficiency has increased on average indicating that people have managed to achieve greater levels of well-being.

The impact of microfinance on well-being has centred on micro (household) level with inconclusive findings and sparse research on transformative effects to larger-scale development. We exploit a unique roll-out expansion of a local bank to assess the fine-grained causal impact of formal microcredit on rural community development and investigate the moderating role of communist agents in financial branches. We utilise multiple big and administrative datasets across disciplines matched with individual surveys. The constructed panel includes 16,200 administrative villages every year between 2012 and 2023, combined with the bank administrative data on transactions for every branch since 2018 when the bank expanded its branches to villages on a rollout basis. We estimate a difference-in-difference specification and find positive and long-term impact of access to microfinance on village development. Villages where village branch managers held communist party membership developed better than villages where managers were not communists. Communist managers appear to be more pro-social and rational, make more efforts in both financial and public services than non-communist managers, implying a hybrid of economic and social motivations and behaviours explaining the moderating effect of communists.

The impact of climate change on human mobility has drawn increasing attention from researchers and the public. In sub-Saharan Africa, most climate-related migration occurs within national borders or between neighboring countries. Projections indicate that if global warming surpasses 2.5°C, the region could see 56–86 million internal migrants by 2050. Young women and girls are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts due to gender-based discrimination, limited property rights, and restricted educational and job opportunities.

This study focuses on Ghana, where climate change appears to drive women’s migration from northern rural areas to southern urban centers during the dry season in search of work. These women often face labor exploitation, unsafe housing, and gender-based violence. It is, however, not well understood under what circumstances climate change increases or decreases the migratory response among women, and what the consequences of these responses are.

Using geospatial satellite data and two rounds of national household survey data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey, we examine how environmental changes, including changes in land use land cover, land surface temperature and rainfall patterns, influence gendered migration patterns.

Our findings show that environmental degradation reduces agricultural productivity and exacerbates socioeconomic vulnerability in rural areas. The study highlights the need for targeted policies to improve environmental quality in migration-prone regions and address gender disparities in access to resources.

Lifestyle and Livelihood: Motivations for Economic Migrants to Settle in Small Towns and Rural Areas

Migration and Immobility in a Changing Climate: The Role of Compound Risks for Well-Being and Livelihoods

This study develops a comprehensive framework to examine the interplay between socioeconomic well-being, environmental shocks, and migration decisions by integrating nationally representative household data with climate indices. Employing a spatial multinomial logit model, we distinguish between domestic, international, and combined migration while accounting for the influence of weather extremes. Our findings reveal a non-linear relationship between well-being and migration: financial and structural barriers limit mobility for poorer households, middle-income groups exhibit the highest propensity to migrate—particularly internationally—and wealthier households favor international over domestic movement. These insights challenge deterministic climate migration narratives, highlighting the need for integrated policies that address poverty, economic mobility, and climate resilience.

This study aims to elucidate how county industrial structure change influences rural intergenerational educational mobility(RIEM) in China. Theoretically, we construct an overlapping generations (OLG) model incorporating skill-biased technological change (SBTC) as an external shock, conducting steady-state path analysis. Utilizing survey data collected from rural areas in Hubei Province, China, in 2023, matched with county-level panel data spanning 1991-2022, we investigate the long-term trends of RIEM and the effects of county industrial change. Our findings reveal that RIEM trends exhibit close correlations with China's development. County industrial structure adjustment and optimization demonstrate overall negative and positive effects on RIEM respectively. However, threshold model tests indicate that the promoting effect of industrial structure change on RIEM primarily manifests in early stages, while later phases reinforce intergenerational transmission. These core conclusions remain robust after addressing potential endogeneity through IV. Furthermore, heterogeneous effects emerge across gender disparities, co-residence differences, and regional characteristics.

The war in Ukraine has triggered one of the largest waves of internal displacement in modern Europe. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) were forced to leave occupied territories or areas of active hostilities, losing their homes, jobs, and social connections. A significant proportion of these individuals have relocated to rural areas, where they received temporary housing and the opportunity to survive. However, adapting to rural life presents a series of economic and social challenges.

Urban dwellers who were displaced to rural areas face significant difficulties in integrating into communities with a fundamentally different way of life. The lack of familiar urban infrastructure, social isolation, and limited employment opportunities force many IDPs to engage in agriculture. Yet, their previous experience either differs significantly (as in the case of those from large agribusinesses) or is entirely unrelated to farming. At the same time, the influx of people into rural areas can contribute to agricultural development, introduce new technologies, and promote economic growth.

This paper examines the socio-economic consequences of forced migration to rural areas, focusing on IDPs' integration into the agricultural sector. Using empirical data on migration and economic indicators from European countries, the study seeks to forecast the potential impact of migration on the development of Ukraine’s agricultural economy.

This study examines the impact of Uzbekistan's agricultural cluster reforms on female labor participation, that relates to quality of life and well-being in rural areas. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach with farm survey data from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan (2019, 2022), the analysis finds that the reforms increased female employment but with heterogeneous effects. Clustering reforms expanded the share of female labor from farm owner households in permanent, skilled roles in farm management and mechanized operations. Simultaneously, increased seasonal labor demand drew previously unemployed women from outside these households into unskilled, temporary positions, with potential implications for household well-being. For clusters that promote mechanization, it emerged as a complementary factor for skilled, permanent female roles but a substitute for seasonal, unskilled female labor. These findings highlight how agricultural reforms and mechanization can transform rural livelihoods and gender equity, with potential broader implications for social development.

As one of the largest and most influential networks of protected areas worldwide, Biosphere Reserves (BRs), as proposed by the Man and the Biosphere Programme, consistently advocate for the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. However, the zonation of core, buffer, and transition areas artificially causes differences in natural resource utilization and livelihood development among residents in different subareas, resulting in potential unfairness. Thus, this research establishes a framework for the livelihood-resource nexus grounded in the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and its 21st-century adaptation (21st SLF). It employs a Biosphere Reserve representing a typical subtropical forest ecosystem in China as a case study to investigate the variations in natural resource utilization and livelihood conditions among residents across different zones, along with their interactive relationships. Based on the findings, this research formulates differentiated livelihood development interventions tailored for the core area, buffer zone, and transition area. The aim is to foster enhanced synergistic development between residents' livelihoods and the utilization of natural resources.

The eminent liberal thinker Friedrich Hayek argued that as economies modernize, small-group logic—anchored in local norms, interpersonal trust, and reciprocity—gives way to formal, large-scale institutions. However, the case of Albania, a post-communist transition economy where formal institutions remain weak, challenges this argument, as informal governance continues to play a crucial role in sustaining cooperation among farmers. Using survey data from 272 orchard farmers in the Korça region, we apply OLS regression and mediation analysis to assess how informal rule enforcement, trust, and reciprocity shape cooperation. Results show that informal governance strengthens trust, which fosters reciprocity and enhances cooperation, while trust in formal institutions has a weaker effect. These findings suggest that formal institutions function best when aligned with informal norms rather than replacing them. By evaluating the relative influence of informal and formal governance mechanisms, we argue that a hybrid governance approach—balancing informal trust networks with formal institutions—is essential for sustaining collective action in transitioning economies.

Land tenure security and land use rights are important for agricultural resilience and wellbeing. In developing countries, perceptions of land rights and tenure security often reflect tenure realities more accurately than formal documents. While previous studies have explored institutional and economic determinants of land tenure security, little is known about the behavioural factors that can explain these perceptions. We examine how risk aversion, loss aversion, and probability distortion relate to perceptions of decision-making autonomy in crop choice, marketing, and land sub-rents, and of tenure security in Uzbekistan, using data from 307 farm managers in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, collected through a lab-in-the-field experiment followed by a survey. The prospect theory parameters were elicited using the using lottery-based experiments. The relationship between prospect theory parameters and land use perceptions was estimated using an ordered probit model. The findings show that risk-seeking managers perceive stronger constraints on crop choice autonomy, while loss-averse managers feel more restricted in land transfer rights. Probability distortion enhances perceptions of autonomy in practicing land use rights, but amplifies concerns about tenure insecurity, driven by overweighting rare adverse events such as land redistribution or confiscation. Institutional factors also play a critical role. Membership in state-led organized value chains limits perceptions of marketing autonomy due to mandatory contractual obligations, while frequent farm size changes reduce perceptions of autonomy in crop choice.

Preserving Tradition, Embracing Progress: The Development of

Rural Societies in Albania

Improvement of quality of life in rural areas through diversification

Increasing Access to European Framework Programs: Where Development Cooperation and Academia meet

Climate change significantly impacts human lives and contributes to migration through stressors such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, and prolonged droughts. However, migration is not solely driven by climate factors but by how individuals perceive climate risks. Climate risk perceptions shape migration decisions in various ways, influencing whether individuals choose to leave or stay. Perceptions of risk are shaped by a combination of socio-economic conditions, political context, and cultural beliefs. Despite growing research in this field, gaps remain, particularly in understanding the multi-dimensional role of risk perceptions across different geographic and socio-economic contexts. This study synthesizes existing literature to explore the interplay between climate risk perceptions, migration, and immobility. It highlights the influence of climate-related stressors on decision-making and investigates how risk perceptions interact with factors such as livelihoods, in-situ adaptation, and place attachment. By analyzing empirical studies across disciplines, this research seeks to clarify the mechanisms through which perceived climate risks impact mobility patterns and resilience strategies.

Migration as a strategy for adapting to climate and environmental change has become a prominent narrative, yet this perspective has faced growing criticism. Critics argue that it places the burden of adaptation on vulnerable populations, can lead to maladaptive outcomes, and neglects immobility, as many individuals either lack the capability or the aspiration to migrate. Despite increasing recognition of these complexities, significant gaps remain in understanding how migration is perceived as successful, maladaptive, or somewhere in between by migrants, their households, and origin communities. This study addresses these gaps by examining migration as an adaptation strategy in the context of environmental and climate (im)mobilities around desiccating Lake Urmia (Iran), where water scarcity and salt storms increasingly threaten rural livelihoods. Based on 96 in-depth interviews and eight group discussions, we assess migration as adaptation from the perspectives of migrants and their origin communities. Findings show that deteriorating environmental conditions around Lake Urmia reduce rural capabilities to stay, contributing to high rates of rural-urban migration. While some migrants report economic improvements, many struggle with precarious employment and reduced well-being. Those remaining face deteriorating health, weakened infrastructure, and eroding social ties, exacerbating rural vulnerabilities. Our research thus challenges the oversimplified narrative of migration as adaptation strategy, revealing its complex and often unintended consequences.

Between 2015 and 2020, emigration from Western Balkan countries increased by nearly half a million people, driven by economic hardship, political instability, and conflict. Recently, environmental factors, particularly climate change, have emerged as significant migration drivers, especially in rural agricultural areas. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events negatively impact livelihoods. However, individuals' perceptions of climate change vary based on socio-economic and cultural contexts, influencing migration decisions differently than objective climate data.

Despite growing research on climate-induced migration, Southeast Europe remains underexplored, with limited studies utilizing remote sensing data to assess climate shocks' effects. This study addresses gaps in understanding whether cumulative climate shocks and long-term trends impact migration intentions differently than isolated climate events. It also examines discrepancies between subjective climate perceptions and objective climate measures in shaping migration decisions.

Using a probit model, the study analyzes data from the RuWell project, a 2024 household survey in Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, and Romania. Findings indicate that cumulative climate stress over five years has a stronger association with migration intentions than recent extreme events, while perceived climate trends show no significant correlation. These insights are crucial for designing adaptive policies that mitigate migration pressures and enhance rural resilience.

Rural out-migration is reshaping demographic and economic landscapes worldwide, often leaving behind children in resource-limited environments. This study examines how internet use interacts with mental health among rural children in China, where digital access has expanded amidst ongoing socio-economic transformations. As digital connectivity expands, concerns arise about its psychological effects, particularly in resource-limited settings. While prior studies in high-income countries suggest internet use may contribute to adolescent depression, little is known about its impact in rural developing areas, where internet use might instead serve as a coping mechanism rather than a cause of distress.

Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative interviews with students, parents, and teachers in rural Sichuan and quantitative analysis of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. A structural simultaneous equations model is employed to address endogeneity, leveraging parental nurturance and a Bartik-style instrumental variable.

Findings indicate that depression risk drives increased internet use rather than the reverse. The root cause of children’s depression risk is parental maltreatment or emotional neglect. Internet use functions as a coping strategy, yet its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. The study suggests that policies should prioritize improving family support structures and mental health resources rather than solely restricting internet access.

We analyze food security dynamics in Kyrgyzstan from 2013 to 2022 using data from the Kyrgyz Integrated Household Survey (KHIS; >5,000 households) and the probability of food security (PFS) metric proposed by Lee et al. (2023). The selected approach allows us to examine the conditional distribution of food insecurity spells, distinguishing between chronic and transient food insecurity. Given regional consumption patterns, we estimate food expenditures based on self-reported consumption, including self-grown food as recorded in KIHS.

Our approach captures variations in food security across income, demographics, geography, and education. Differentiating between chronic and transient food insecurity is crucial for effective policymaking. This distinction informs targeted long-term interventions for persistently food-insecure households and short-term safety nets for those experiencing temporary shocks. Our findings provide critical insights for designing more adaptive and equitable food security policies in Kyrgyzstan.

Households, experiencing unprecedented climate change in Tajikistan, depend on migration. However, the contribution of migration is not always pervasive in food security achievements. The manuscript analyses how migration directly or indirectly changes food security outcomes. Using a dataset from USAID and IFPRI for the Khatlon province of Tajikistan, we confirm that migration directly increases dietary diversity and decreases household hunger. In addition, migration through strengthening farm resilience capacity indirectly improves food security outcomes.

Migration intentions and return migration: evidence from the OeNB Euro Survey

A scientifically rigorous methodological framework is proposed, employing the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model to forecast migration volumes. This approach encompasses four sequential phases: establishing a comprehensive research database; specifying the structural from of the ARIMA model; evaluating the model and validating its fitness; and generating forecasts. The empirical analysis utilized UNESCO data on the total number of outbound internationally mobile tertiary students from Ukraine (both sexes) for the period 2004-2024. Findings revealed a consistent upward trend in migration from the early 2000s to 2019, punctuated by a sharp increase between 2014 and 2018, attributable to the 2008 financial crisis and the intensification of armed conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014. A subsequent decrease in outbound Ukrainian students was observed in 2019, likely due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine precipitated a substantial surge in academic migration. ARIMA-based projections indicate the following student migrant figures: 82,028 in 2025, 82,588 in 2026, and 82,919 in 2027. These migration flow forecasts can inform the development of effective migration policies by governmental bodies, facilitating the attraction of international students and enabling strategic planning for higher education, encompassing resource allocation for funding, infrastructure, and student support services.

Climate change bears an increasing threat to rural livelihood in Central Asia being among the regions in the world most affected by climatic extremes. Proper adaptation to climate change will be indispensable for the local agricultural production systems to deal with these extremes and to counter-weight climate-related migration. Agroforestry systems (AFS) are considered to provide strong potential to enhance resilience of current production systems and rural livelihood due to their beneficial effects on micro climate, soil health, water retention capacity and diversification of income. Against this background, AFS may be advantageous and more economically profitable than non-AFS particularly in situations of climate risks, given their higher resilience and diversified production. To test this hypothesis in the context of Central Asian AFS, our study aims to understand the relationship between farm profitability and experience of climate-related shocks, comparing AFS and non-AFS across three nut and fruit production regions in Kyrgyzstan. We collected socio-economic survey data from 250 AFS and non-AFS smallholding farm households in the period of July to November 2024. Profitability analysis is conducted using capital budgeting techniques, regression models and Monte-Carlo simulation considering experienced climate-related shocks, applied coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies. The study contributes to our current understanding of climate-related risks on agricultural production systems in Central Asia and the potential of locally adapted AFS to enhance farm livelihood resilience taking a socio-economic approach.

The retention of young teachers in Kazakhstan’s rural schools poses a significant challenge, as many leave due to dissatisfaction, high stress, and demanding work conditions. Rural schools face unique obstacles, including multi-grade classrooms, poor infrastructure, limited teaching resources, and geographic isolation, but they also promote close community relationships and personalized education. Studies on the experiences of rural teachers in Kazakhstan remain limited.

This research employed an innovative photovoice method, engaging 8 early-career teachers from ungraded rural schools in the Kostanay and Karagandy regions. Participants documented their experiences through photographs and narratives. Four central themes emerged: lack of resources, isolation, a sense of belonging, and classroom experiences. Resource shortages, outdated materials, and poor infrastructure hindered teaching, while geographic isolation intensified loneliness. However, shared challenges strengthened community bonds, and homegrown teachers showed commitment to local education. Participants demonstrated creativity in resource-limited environments, but constant improvisation led to exhaustion.

To retain teachers, it is crucial to implement mentorship programs, reduce administrative burdens, upgrade infrastructure, and provide essential resources. These interventions can support teachers’ well-being, maintain their creativity, and improve the quality of education in rural schools, addressing a critical issue in Kazakhstan’s education system.

Land use change in agriculture is one of the most significant challenges facing rural areas in Iran, with far-reaching consequences for rural migration, quality of life, and sustainable development. These changes, primarily driven by economic, social, and legal factors, lead to a decline in agricultural land, erosion of social capital, and reduced production capacity in rural regions, thereby intensifying rural-to-urban migration. This study employs panel data time-series models (2000–2024) to examine the impact of economic factors, social factors, and legal policies on land use changes across different provinces of Iran. The findings reveal that declining agricultural income, rising living costs, and unbalanced urban-industrial development policies are among the key drivers of land conversion and rural migration. In addition to providing economic and social analyses, this study evaluates national and regional policy and legal measures aimed at managing land use changes and mitigating rural migration. The results suggest that reforming agricultural support policies, investing in rural infrastructure, and revising land use regulations can contribute to improving rural livelihoods, reducing migration rates, and preserving agricultural land. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers seeking to promote sustainable resource management and enhance the social and economic resilience of rural communities.

Coastal regions of Bangladesh have been undergoing profound environmental and socio-ecological transformations since the 1980s, driven by both anthropogenic and natural factors. Rapid land-use changes such as the expansion of shrimp farming alongside climate-induced phenomena, including sea-level rise, tidal surges, river erosion, and increasing salinity intrusion, have significantly impacted local livelihoods and food security, particularly for landless and marginal farmers. These environmental stressors have triggered a complex pattern of migration, with seasonal labour migration emerging as the dominant response and a key economic adaptation strategy. This study employs an empirical approach, drawing on in-depth interviews with local residents and migrant families to trace migration routes within Bangladesh. By mapping the movement of seasonal migrants, this research illustrates how migration patterns correspond to seasonal labour demand across different regions, including urban centres such as Khulna, Chittagong, and Dhaka, as well as proximate rural areas. While permanent migration remains relatively limited and primarily linked to educational opportunities for younger family members, labour migration constitutes a critical economic strategy, with remittances playing a vital role in sustaining local livelihoods. Findings suggest that migration flows are intricately linked to seasonal employment cycles, highlighting the necessity for further research to delineate the structural and non-institutional factors shaping these movements. This study underscores the importance of policy interventions to bridge existing knowledge gaps and mitigate the socio-economic and environmental implications of migration in both origin and destination areas.

Ensuring GP care is a challenge in many rural regions, crucial for both residents’ health and the attractiveness of these areas. Municipal Medical Care Centres (mMCCs) are seen as a promising solution, offering attractive working conditions for GPs. However, implementation experience is limited. This study analyses the foundation, establishment, and design of an mMCC in the rural town of Marienmünster, focusing on the founding process, hurdles, success factors, innovations, and the municipality's opportunities and risks. It is based on a literature review, structured docu-ment analysis, and semi-structured interviews with key actors. The analysis used qualitative con-tent analysis. Marienmünster secured local GP care by founding an mMCC as a GmbH. Success was due to strong problem awareness and cooperation with the existing GP practice. One of the hurdles is that the responsibility and distribution of tasks for GP care are subject to change. Marienmünster faces the challenge of avoiding staff shortages in the mMCC and counteracting inter-municipal competition. The municipality now has the opportunity to shape healthcare planning. The insights of this research can guide other rural regions facing similar challenges. With many GP practices being handed over, research is urgently needed to explore how healthcare can be integrated into health-promoting town development.

Private sector financing – next to the responsibilities nation states have to fulfil – to reach the global climate and overall sustainability goals is urgently needed, especially in times of increasingly tighter government budgets. At the same time, the consequences of growing temperatures can already be felt around the globe and have impacts on virtually every sustainable development dimension themselves. The “Contribution Claim” offers an alternative to existing and established corporate climate strategies such as carbon offsetting. In an interdisciplinary and inclusive multi-stakeholder research project, the Foundation Development and Climate Alliance examined and fleshed out its Contribution Claim Model aimed at helping corporations and other organisations to implement it into their sustainability efforts. After the initial formulation of basic principles, a guideline for implementation was compiled. Key outcomes of this analysis were to apply requirements for the companies that want to engage with this model, while simultaneously having requirements in place for the projects and measures that could be supported with it. By doing this, the Contribution Claim Model aims to ensure high quality and integrity for corporate sustainability strategies with outcomes that should serve climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this poster, I present initial results from my doctoral research project on immobility processes in the Bengal Delta, India. My research focuses on the low-lying deltaic island of Mousuni, where rural agrarian communities facing sea level rise, cyclonic storms, and coastal flooding undergo land and livelihood losses. Through ethnographic fieldwork, I make sense of people's staying decisions on the island by uncovering local perceptions of habitability, grounded in subjective definitions of a 'good life' and traditional knowledge systems on the biophysical environment. The field data also points to the complexity of staying decisions that defy the binary labels of 'forced' and 'voluntary' as traditionally conceptualised in the migration studies literature. Furthermore, I also address how mobility practices, such as labour migration and relocation projects, may be integrally linked to staying decisions.

Rural areas face serious challenges due to low socio-economic potential. Improving living conditions requires targeted actions. This study compares rural areas in Ukraine and Poland, examining their characteristics, changes in living standards, and whether Poland’s transformation can serve as a model for Ukraine. The research poses several key questions: What are the features of rural areas in Poland and Ukraine?

A key focus is on territorial partnerships—Local Action Groups (LAGs)—and their role in rural development. The analysis is based on statistical data, scientific literature, and strategic documents. It explores rural areas’ status, key issues, and development trends. Factors such as administrative reforms and decentralization are assessed, alongside demographic challenges and employment levels in both countries.

Poland’s experience highlights extensive infrastructure investments, including sewage and gas networks, road improvements, and better access to social services. Territorial partnerships contribute significantly to local development. In Ukraine, reforms at the local governance level aim to strengthen rural communities. However, war has severely damaged villages and infrastructure in the east and stalled transformation efforts elsewhere. Despite these challenges, Ukraine’s rural areas have the potential for growth by leveraging decentralization and community-driven initiatives, following Poland’s example where possible.

The study examines how recurrent irrigation shortages and extreme weather events shape the risk and time preferences of smallholder farmers in Kyrgyzstan. Using lab-in-the-field experiments with 425 farmers in the Jalal-Abad province, we assess how water scarcity influences economic behavior, particularly risk aversion, loss aversion, probability distortions, impatience, and present bias.

Our findings reveal that farmers facing frequent irrigation shortages exhibit higher risk aversion and impatience, while extreme weather events encourage more patient decision-making. Ethnic minorities and older individuals show stronger loss aversion, whereas more educated farmers display lower discount rates, indicating a greater willingness to invest in the future. Farmers in remote areas and those with poor irrigation infrastructure tend to overweight small-probability risks. Female farmers show greater risk aversion and impatience compared to male farmers.

These insights contribute to the broader literature on climate-induced behavioral changes, highlighting the role of chronic environmental stressors in economic preferences. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for designing policies for improving adaptive strategies and enhancing resilience of smallholders in water-scarce areas of developing countries.

Wine is Georgia's fifth-largest export commodity. Russia, the largest export market for Georgian wines, is an emerging wine market with shifting demographics. The purchasing power of post-Soviet Millennials has been surpassing that of the older generations, driving demand for different wine attributes. However, consumer preferences for Georgian wines remain an underexplored topic, especially amidst macroeconomic uncertainties and geopolitical shifts since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022.

This study uses a latent class logit model within a discrete choice experiment to examine the influence of wine label design, language, price, appellation, and medals on Russian consumers’ preferences. It also explores generational differences, distinguishing between intra-Soviet cohorts (Baby Boomers and Generation X) and post-Soviet cohorts (Millennials).

The analysis identifies three consumer segments in Russia. The first two segments of intra-Soviet generations prefer semi-sweet wines with Russian or Russian-Georgian labels and no medals. However, one segment prioritizes affordability and rustic designs, while the other disregards price and prefers modern labels. In contrast, post-Soviet Millennials in the third segment prefer higher-priced dry red wines, English-based labels, and medals.

Our results suggest that as Millennials gain purchasing power, export strategies should shift from semi-sweet to dry red wines, focusing on premium segments. Given Russia’s protectionist policies since 2022 and its focus on developing the local wine industry, Georgian wine exporters should diversify export markets to reduce reliance on the Russian market.

Like many regions, Cambodia has been experiencing increasing rural outmigration. Key drivers of this migration include pressures from climate change and the pursuit of improved quality of life. Farm succession has been suggested as a potential strategy to mitigate outmigration trends; however, more complex modeling is needed to understand the underlying socioeconomic drivers of it, particularly in the Global South. This study examines the relationship between farm succession planning and the socioeconomic conditions of rice farming households in the Damnak Ampil irrigation scheme. Based on survey data collected in late 2024 (n=199), we apply a random forest classification model incorporating random oversampling and recursive feature elimination. Results indicate that succession planning in this region functions more as a survival mechanism than a vehicle for intergenerational wealth transfer. Households most likely to plan for succession tend to have (1) low or negative farm net income, (2) more unreliable water access, and (3) mild to moderate food insecurity. These findings suggest a potential policy paradox: while improving socioeconomic conditions should be an essential first step, such improvements may reduce the likelihood of farm succession and could further accelerate outmigration.

Migration and Youth Generational Transfer – The Case of North Macedonia

Migration and Farm Succession – The Case of Albania

Migration Intentions – The Case of Kosovo

A comprehensive and methodical approach to enhancing the competence of authorized

representatives of communities in agrarian and rural development (consultants in this field)

will be presented. This includes tools and frameworks developed and implemented, such as

the consultant’s concept, the agro-economic passport of the community, strategies for

updating existing regional development plans, and the methodology for horizontal

comparisons of communities in Ukraine. A key practical element in enhancing the

sustainability of community development involved hands-on training for utilizing various tools

to engage farmers and local residents interested in agrarian business development, attracting

investment, and securing state support. To support these efforts, a series of practical tools

and recommendations were created and put into action. Currently, the focus is on developing

the capacity for knowledge multiplication—facilitating the transfer of accumulated experience

and resources to other territorial communities across Ukraine (approximately 1,500 in total)—

and fostering proactive engagement with investors to build a positive territorial image and

attract regional development projects, including EU and LEADER initiatives. Additionally, a

major outcome for 2025 will be the creation of a tailored marketing strategy for the respective

territories.

The study provides a quantitative evaluation of a three-year project on building capacity of local governments in Ukraine in the war conditions. APD Ukraine implemented series of awareness-raising, educational, and technical activities in selected hromadas of five oblasts in Ukraine. The intervention’s goal was to improve hromadas’ ability to implement fiscal planning, streamline land management, and assist local farms in attracting state and donor funding. Using a baseline (2022) and post-intervention surveys (2025) involving pre-defined control and treatment groups, we estimate average treatment effects on the treated (ATET). We expect to find a positive effect on the farms’ ability to attract state and donor support. Based on the results, we discuss the options of scaling up the interventions within this pilot.

Fiscal distress is a pressing issue worldwide, with Ukraine facing particularly severe challenges due to the ongoing war with Russia. The financial burden of national defense, reconstruction, and recovery has significantly strained both national and local budgets. As part of Ukraine’s decentralization reforms, local governments have been granted increased fiscal authority but also bear greater responsibility in mobilizing local revenues. This paper provides the first-ever benchmarking of local governments' tax potential and efforts in Ukraine, offering a framework for systematic monitoring and informed policymaking. The study critiques existing assessment methods used by the government and alternative expert-developed approaches, highlighting inconsistencies in their results. By addressing a critical gap in the literature, which has largely focused on cross-country analyses rather than local-level fiscal performance, this research contributes to the development of a more reliable performance measurement framework for local communities and governments to support Ukraine’s post-war recovery and economic sustainability.

The Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Study is an open-access, longitudinal survey conducted since 2010 to examine household and individual welfare in Kyrgyzstan. The study tracks 3,000 households and 8,000 individuals across all seven oblasts and the cities of Bishkek and Osh, providing nationally and regionally representative data on demographics, income, migration, employment, agriculture, and well-being. The most recent wave was conducted in spring 2025. Data is collected through tailored questionnaires in Russian, Kyrgyz, and English and is freely available for non-commercial use via the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). Since 2015, the annual Life in Kyrgyzstan Conference in Bishkek has brought together researchers and policymakers to discuss regional socio-economic trends. Recent initiatives, including a new webinar series, further expand knowledge exchange. The LiK Study is a key resource for advancing empirical research on Central Asia’s development challenges.

The AGRICHANGE/SUSADICA Data is a unique, panel survey dataset on agricultural development in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, collected through two waves in 2019 and 2022. The dataset includes information on farm structures, decision-making, sustainable agricultural practices, land tenure perceptions, and agricultural intensification. Covering 963 farmers in 2019 and 901 in 2022 across key agricultural regions, it enables impact analysis on policy measures, technology adoption, and institutional change. The SUSADICA Data Reuse project, building on the Volkswagen Foundation-funded SUSADICA doctoral program, aims to improve access to this data by enhancing documentation and storage while providing training for researchers in Central Asia. The project fosters data-driven policy research by offering structured tutoring on data analysis and evidence-based research. Hosted by IAMO and Justus Liebig University Giessen, the initiative ensures that the dataset remains a key resource for advancing empirical research on sustainable agricultural transformation in Central Asia.

The UzFarmBarometer is a comprehensive farm survey conducted in November 2024 across four provinces of Uzbekistan, interviewing 1,225 farm managers. This survey provides a nationally representative dataset on farm structures, production decisions, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, with a focus on behavioral and economic drivers of decision-making. The project aims to enhance evidence-based policymaking by tracking key farm-level parameters and assessing constraints to the adoption of modern agricultural technologies. It accounts farmers’ perceptions about policy environment, prospects of economic development, climate change, weather risks and socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of farm managers. The survey was conducted through a collaboration between the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) and Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT). The dataset is used for researchers, policy analysts, and development organizations seeking to support sustainable agricultural transformation in Uzbekistan.

Representing the view of current and potential data users from Central Asia, Westminster International University in Tashkent has positioned itself as a data hub and center of excellence for quantitative analysis of economic development. This intervention addresses constraints, challenges, and opportunities in using survey data sets and alternative (innovative) data source in Central Asian higher research and education.

Sharing insights from the use of internationally acknowledged and long-standing data collection initiatives, this contribution focuses on the requirements and expectations of international data users of data originating from Central Asia, in terms of relevant research areas, methodological standards and options, data quality and documentation, and research ethics.