The Multidimensional Livelihood Vulnerability Index – an instrument to measure livelihood vulnerability to change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas

In recent years the population of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) has been confronted with rapid social, economic, demographic, and political changes. In addition, the region is particularly vulnerable to climate change. However, there is a scarcity of cohesive information on the state of the environment and on the socio-economic situation of the approximately 210 million people who reside in the HKH. Specifically, data on livelihood vulnerability are lacking. As part of the Himalaya Climate Change Adaptation Programme, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, in consultation with regional and international partners, has developed the Multidimensional Livelihood Vulnerability Index (MLVI), a measure to explore and describe livelihood vulnerability to climatic, environmental, and socio-economic change in the HKH region. This paper documents how the MLVI was developed and demonstrates the utility of this approach by using primary household survey data of 16 selected districts of three sub-basins in the HKH region. The analysis gives important clues about differences in the intensity and composition of multidimensional livelihood vulnerability across these locations that should be useful to decision makers to identify areas of intervention and guide their measures to reduce vulnerability

Working, but not for a living: a longitudinal study on the psychological consequences of economic vulnerability among German employees

Despite the rise of in-work poverty across Europe, the psychological consequences of individual economic vulnerability are still rather unknown. Drawing on both objective and subjective conceptualizations of economic vulnerability, we investigate the effects of individual low labour income and perceived financial strain on mental well-being. We argue that economic vulnerability restricts workers’ agency and propose sense of control as a mediator in the relationship between economic vulnerability and mental well-being – irrespective of the household’s financial situation. Multilevel analyses across 19 years based on a sample of N = 7,107 employed adults from the German Socio-economic Panel (SOEP) demonstrated that a) persons reporting low income and higher financial strain showed lower health and life satisfaction, and b) intra-individual changes in income and financial strain were associated with corresponding changes in mental health and life satisfaction, respectively. These relationships were mediated by sense of control, both on the between- and the within-person level. The findings emphasize the importance of individual income and financial strain for mental well-being, and underline sense of control as an important psychological mechanism explaining individual consequences of economic vulnerability

A Multidimensional Poverty Measure for the Hindu Kush–Himalayas, Applied to Selected Districts in Nepal

Approximately 211 million people live in the Hindu Kush–Himalaya region. Although poverty levels in this region are high, there is a lack of cohesive information on the socioeconomic status of its populations that would enable decision-makers to understand different manifestations of poverty and design effective poverty alleviation programs. Hence, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in consultation with international and regional partners, has developed the Multidimensional Poverty Measure for the Hindu Kush–Himalayas (MPM-HKH). This measure aims to identify and describe poor and vulnerable households across the Hindu Kush–Himalaya region—which is predominantly rural and mountainous and covers several of the world’s least developed countries—in a consistent manner. This article documents how the MPM-HKH was developed and demonstrates the utility of this approach, using Nepal as an example, by analyzing household survey data from 23 districts. The analysis gives important clues about differences in the intensity and composition of multidimensional poverty across these locations, which highlights the need for location-specific poverty alleviation strategies. The findings should help decision-makers to identify areas of intervention and choose the best measures to reduce poverty

Gefährdeter Zusammenhalt? Polarisierungs- und Spaltungstendenzen in Deutschland.

Groh-Samberg O, Gerlitz J-Y, Minkus L, et al. Gefährdeter Zusammenhalt? Polarisierungs- und Spaltungstendenzen in Deutschland. . Bremen: SOCIUM, Forschungsinstitut Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt; 2022

Entkoppelte Lebenswelten? Soziale Beziehungen und gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt in Deutschland. Erster Zusammenhaltsbericht des Forschungsinstituts Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt

Teichler N, Gerlitz J-Y, Cornesse C, et al. Entkoppelte Lebenswelten? Soziale Beziehungen und gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt in Deutschland. Erster Zusammenhaltsbericht des Forschungsinstituts Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt. Bremen: SOCIUM; 2023