Although there is a long history to the study of poverty and equity, it is clear from the state of the world that knowledge about the causes of poverty does not necessarily translate into policies that effectively reduce poverty. IIASA research into poverty and equity is designed to pose new questions that shed light on the dimensions of poverty, and to develop new methods that untangle the web of interrelated influences that determine levels of human development and wellbeing.

Given the ineffectiveness of much poverty research to bring about change, IIASA is placing a high priority on communicating its scientific findings in a specific and localized policy-making and political context. Government officials at many levels in different countries must be given the tools to interpret and apply the research findings to their particular socio-economic, political and cultural situation.

IIASA brings a systems analysis approach to the research by exploring what drives the social, economic, environmental and political factors that create such deep inequities in different societies. The institute’s research themes are focused on the dynamics of poverty and on the policies needed to deal with them. The themes are also linked to the institutes other research areas:

• Energy poverty – how to improve energy access to the poor and to simultaneously improve their environment and health.
• Poverty and ecosystems – how to break the cycle of poverty and ecosystem degradation.
• Poverty, inequity and education – how to reduce poverty and inequality through education and growth.
• Poverty and vulnerability to disaster – how to reduce the vulnerability of the poor to inordinate risk form both natural disasters and infectious diseases.

IIASA’s new research strategy focuses under the Poverty and Equity area research being done by the Risk, Policy and Vulnerability program. As all of IIASA’s research is crosscutting, the Poverty and Equity research area draws on expertise from across the institution when appropriate.

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Last updated: 01 Mar 2011