Migration is a highly complex social phenomenon and migration decisions depend on a variety of social, political and economic factors. Researchers from IIASA and Wittgenstein Centre published the Fact Sheet Migration, providing information about the challenges, that might be confronted for a successful adaptation.
The public discourse on migration is usually simplified and limited to the potentially large migration flows that are triggered by armed conflicts and wars, and economic deprivation. For a social and political debate, it is necessary to understand the reasons for migration, characteristics of the population groups that migrate and the consequences of migration in the country of origin and destination.
News
09 June 2026
Life after work: Why social connections matter
Social networks may help protect cognitive functioning in later life, particularly among older adults who are no longer working, according to a new IIASA-led study. Drawing on data from 27 European countries, the researchers found that social connections can help compensate for the loss of mentally stimulating interactions linked to work, with different types of relationships benefiting women and men.
02 June 2026
Climate-driven drought linked to rising violence among adolescents in Southern Africa
New research from IIASA and the University of Oxford provides the first quantitative evidence that drought exposure over the last 12 months is associated with increased risk of sexual, emotional, and physical violence among adolescents in Southern Africa. This risk rises substantially during cumulative droughts over two years.
28 May 2026
IIASA welcomes Royal Society Executive Director Dame Julie Maxton
IIASA recently welcomed Dame Julie Maxton, Executive Director of the Royal Society, to Laxenburg for a series of discussions focused on global challenges, science diplomacy, and the future of international research cooperation.