Research Gertrud Buchenrieder

Research Focus

• Multidimensional poverty and social inequality
• Institutions and socioeconomic development
• Microfinance
• Migration, displacement & settlement
• Human security and development

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List of ongoing and completed research projects funded by DFG

German Research Foundation

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Examples of Completed Research Projects

University of the Bundeswehr Munich:

• DFG Project (2019-2023) "Perceptions of Inequality through Social Comparisons and Their Impact on Subjective Well-Being: A Micro-Study on Reference Groups" (BU 1319/22-1)

• Research project "Refugees from the Central African Republic in Eastern Cameroon: Human Security of Refugees and Citizens of Host Communities in the Context of Humanitarian Aid," 2019-2021, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, ICT University in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Stiftung fiat panis, Ulm:

• Project funding: "Bridging the Food and Nutrition Gap for Hunger and Poverty Reduction: Understanding the Dynamics and Institutional Framework for Bushmeat in Cameroon," 2010-2012, University of the Bundeswehr, Munich.

7th Framework Program of the European Union:

• Coordination and support action "Enlargement Network for Agripolicy Analysis (AgriPolicy)," 2008-2010, IAMO.

6th Framework Program of the European Union:

• Coordinator: Specific Targeted Research Project "Structural Change in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods (SCARLED)," 2007-2010, (SSPE-CT-2006-044201), IAMO.

Joint Research Center (JRC) – Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS):

• Tender "Sustainability of Semi-Subsistence Farming Systems in New Member States and Acceding Countries (S-Farm)," 2007-2008, IAMO.

• Subproject 3.3 "Land and Water Property Rights, Natural Resource Management and Rural Credit Access" (together with Prof. Franz Heidhues & Prof. Binsheng Ke) in the Graduate School 1070 "Modeling Material Flows and Production Systems for Sustainable Resource Use in Intensified Crop Production in the North China Plain," 2004-2008, University of Hohenheim.

Eiselen Stiftung (now Stiftung fiat panis), Ulm:

• "Risk Management for Sustainable Livelihoods of Farm Households in Northern Thailand," 2004-2005, University of Hohenheim.

• Subproject F2.2 "Risk Management of Agricultural Households in Northern Vietnam" of the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 564 "Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountainous Regions of Southeast Asia," 2003-2006, University of Hohenheim.

• Subproject F2.1 "Rural Finance and Sustainable Rural Development in Northern Vietnam" of the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 564 "Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountainous Regions of Southeast Asia," 2000-2003, University of Hohenheim.

ACE-PHARE98 Program of the European Union:

• Partner in "EU Accession in the Balkans: Policy Options for Diversification in the Rural Economy," 2000-2001, University of Hohenheim.

ACE-PHARE95 of the European Union:

• "Romania – Rural Financial Market Development for the Small Private Farm Sector," 1996-1997, University of Hohenheim.

Research Profile

The research focuses on the socio-scientific investigation and explanation of fundamental socio-economic issues such as poverty and human security in developing and transition countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Europe, and Southeast Asia.

The research approach is problem-oriented and thus transdisciplinary. The welfare-theoretical basis is the Rational Choice approach, extended by approaches from political science (e.g., Structure-Agency from Neo-Institutionalism), behavioral economics (e.g., Status Quo Bias from Prospect Theory), and sociology (e.g., cognitive constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior) to generate research results and insights that are reality- and action-oriented.

Methodologically, (semi-)structured questionnaires are used for theory-based empirical research to conduct quantitative statistical cause-effect analyses. Both cross-sectional samples and panel data are collected. However, problem-oriented research, especially in a developing country context, also requires qualitative approaches such as in-depth and group interviews and participant observation.

The thematic research is generally conducted in the context of the United Nations' "Global Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development." In addition to research focusing on traditional goals such as inclusive poverty reduction, efficient resource use, and natural resource conservation, a particular research focus is on Goal 16: "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions." This goal is based on the United Nations' conviction that sustainable development is not possible without peace and stability.

Three thematic research strands can be identified. First, improving access to and efficient use of productive resources is crucial for poverty reduction and sustainable development. For example, income poverty often results in a lack of self-financed productive investments. Access to credit to address this shortfall is hampered by a lack of bankability. Research insights into so-called microfinance can provide solutions here.

The link between poverty or interregional income disparities of so-called human capital and intra- or international labor migration is well known. However, much less attention is paid to the question of why most people in many regions of the world remain in their hometowns, even though these places have economic and other disadvantages (e.g., social or environmental) compared to other locations. This gap in knowledge is to be filled by examining the stay intentions of the economically active population in developing countries with high internal and international migration rates.

Another research topic is well-being and social inequality. Inequality can only be perceived relative to others within society, nationally, and/or internationally. Therefore, social comparisons represent the direct link between the concept of inequality and the concept of subjective well-being. Although the importance of social comparisons within reference groups is undisputed, there are few empirical studies on this subject. This gap is to be closed by surveying students in several countries and an empirical case study in Thailand.

Human security addresses two fundamental human claims: freedom from want and freedom from fear. The current "Global Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development" and human security are thus closely related, although the latter was already initiated in 1994 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Human security is a prerequisite for sustainable development and is particularly well-suited for studying the push and pull factors of labor migrants and (internal) refugees.