Raya Muttarak

Raya Muttarak is the former IIASA Population and Just Societies (POPJUS) Program director and acting Migration and Sustainable Development (MIG) Research Group leader. She is currently professor of Demography and the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Bologna, Italy but still maintains close ties with the Population and Just Societies Program at IIASA. She has also been director of Population, Environment, and Sustainable Development at the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, a cooperation between IIASA, the University of Vienna, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, since 2017. In 2022, she was appointed editor of the journal, Population and Development Review.

Muttarak holds an MSc and DPhil in Sociology from the University of Oxford, UK, and pursued her postdoctoral research at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, winning first the Max Weber fellowship, followed by the Marie Curie Intra-European Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Muttarak joined IIASA in September 2011, while also working as a research scientist at the Vienna Institute of Demography (VID)/Austrian Academy of Sciences (2011-2017). From 2017-2020, she was a senior lecturer (associate professor) in Geography and International Development at the School of International Development, University of East Anglia, UK. From 2018 to 2020, she served as chair of the Population-Environment Research Network of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP). She is a principle investigator of the European Research Council Consolidator Grant POPCLIMA Project (2002-2026 - Grant Agreement: 101002973), which aims to assess and forecast population dynamics under global climate change.

Her research focuses mainly on the reciprocal relationship between population and the environment. Her current research projects include differential impacts of climate variability on human health, migration, and child welfare; climate change attitudes, voting patterns, and environmental behaviors; and modeling and forecasting future vulnerability and adaptive capacity. She is also actively engaged in empirical studies on a variety of topics ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and gender disparities, estimates of migration intention to female empowerment, and domestic violence.

She has published widely in the field of population dynamics, environment, and sustainable development, including publications in high impact journals such as Science, Nature Climate Change, Nature Sustainability, The Lancet, and Global Environmental Change.

Last update: 03 FEB 2022

Eker, S. & Wilson, C. (2022). System Dynamics of Social Tipping Processes. IIASA Report. Laxenburg, Austria: IIASA

Chen, S., Huang, Q., Muttarak, R. , Fang, J., Liu, T., He, C., Liu, Z., & Zhu, L. (2022). Updating global urbanization projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Scientific Data 9 (1), e137. 10.1038/s41597-022-01209-5.

Hoffmann, R., Muttarak, R. , Peisker, J., & Stanig, P. (2022). Climate change experiences raise environmental concerns and promote Green voting. Nature Climate Change 12 (2), 148-155. 10.1038/s41558-021-01263-8.

Abel, G. , Muttarak, R. , & Stephany, F. (2022). Climatic Shocks and Internal Migration : Evidence from 442 Million Personal Records in 64 Countries. World Bank Group

Muttarak, R. (2022). Vulnerability to Climate Change and Adaptive Capacity from a Demographic Perspective. In: International Handbook of Population and Environment. Eds. Hunter, L., Gray, C., & Véron, J., pp. 63-86 Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-76433-310.1007/978-3-030-76433-3_4.

Muttarak, R. (2021). Demographic perspectives in research on global environmental change. Population Studies 75 (sup1), 77-104. 10.1080/00324728.2021.1988684.

Muttarak, R. (2021). Applying Concepts and Tools in Demography for Estimating, Analyzing, and Forecasting Forced Migration. Journal on Migration and Human Security 9 (3), 182-196. 10.1177/23315024211042850.

Muttarak, R. , Abel, G. , Crespo Cuaresma, J., & Brottrager, M. (2021). Recent progress and future directions for research related to migration and conflict. Global Environmental Change 71, e102401. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102401.

Hoffmann, R. & Muttarak, R. (2021). Environment, Migration and Urbanisation: Challenges and Solutions for Low-and Middle-Income Countries. Think20 (T20)

Ghislandi, S., Muttarak, R. , Sauerberg, M., & Scotti, B. (2021). Human costs of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the major epicentres in Italy. In: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2022. Eds. Di Giulio, P., Goujon, A. , Marois, G. , & Goldstein, J., Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 10.1553/populationyearbook2022.res2.1.

Benveniste, H. , Crespo Cuaresma, J., Gidden, M. , & Muttarak, R. (2021). Tracing international migration in projections of income and inequality across the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Climatic Change 166 (3-4) 10.1007/s10584-021-03133-w.

Hunter, L.M., Koning, S., Fussell, E., King, B., Rishworth, A., Merdjanoff, A., Muttarak, R. , Riosmena, F., Simon, D.H., Skop, E., & Van Den Hoek, J. (2021). Scales and sensitivities in climate vulnerability, displacement, and health. Population and Environment 10.1007/s11111-021-00377-7.

Muttarak, R. (2021). Demographic perspectives in research on global environmental change. IIASA Working Paper. Laxenburg, Austria: WP-21-001

Hoffmann, R., Muttarak, R. , Peisker, J., & Stanig, P. (2021). Voting for Tomorrow: Climate Change, Environmental Concern and Green Voting. 146. Dondena Working Papers Carlo F. Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy

Niva, V., Kallio, M., Muttarak, R. , Taka, M., Varis, O., & Kummu, M. (2021). Global migration is driven by the complex interplay between environmental and social factors. Environmental Research Letters 16 (11), e114019. 10.1088/1748-9326/ac2e86.

Spitzer, S. , di Lego, V., Greulich, A., & Muttarak, R. (2021). A demographic perspective on human wellbeing: Concepts, measurement and population heterogeneity. In: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2021. Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-8707-310.1553/populationyearbook2021.int01.

Hoffmann, R., Dimitrova, A., Muttarak, R. , Crespo Cuaresma, J., & Peisker, J. (2020). A meta-analysis of country-level studies on environmental change and migration. Nature Climate Change 10 (9), 904-912. 10.1038/s41558-020-0898-6.

Dimitrova, A. & Muttarak, R. (2020). After the floods: Differential impacts of rainfall anomalies on child stunting in India. Global Environmental Change 64, e102130. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102130.

Liang, S., Yang, X., Qi, J., Wang, Y., Xie, W., Muttarak, R. , & Guan, D. (2020). CO2 Emissions Embodied in International Migration from 1995 to 2015. Environmental Science & Technology 54 (19), 12530-12538. 10.1021/acs.est.0c04600.

TWI2050 - The World in 2050, (2020). Innovations for Sustainability. Pathways to an efficient and post-pandemic future. Report prepared by The World in 2050 initiative. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

Sobotka, T., Brzozowska, Z., Muttarak, R. , Zeman, K., & di Lego, V. (2020). Age, gender and COVID-19 infections. medRxiv 10.1101/2020.05.24.20111765. (Submitted)

Ghislandi, S., Muttarak, R. , Sauerberg, M., & Scotti, B. (2020). News from the front: Estimation of excess mortality and life expectancy in the major epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. medRxiv 10.1101/2020.04.29.20084335. (Submitted)

Marois, G. , Muttarak, R. , & Scherbov, S. (2020). Assessing the potential impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy. IIASA Working Paper. Laxenburg, Austria: WP-20-005

Ghislandi, S., Muttarak, R. , & Shaikh, M. (2020). Empowering girls, delaying marriage: Exploring the role of marital age and education on domestic violence in India. IIASA Working Paper. Laxenburg, Austria: WP-20-002

Hoffmann, R. & Muttarak, R. (2020). Greening through schooling: understanding the link between education and pro-environmental behavior in the Philippines. Environmental Research Letters 15 (1), e014009. 10.1088/1748-9326/ab5ea0.

Andrijevic, M., Crespo Cuaresma, J., Muttarak, R. , & Schleussner, C.-F. (2020). Governance in socioeconomic pathways and its role for future adaptive capacity. Nature Sustainability 3, 35-41. 10.1038/s41893-019-0405-0.

Marois, G. , Muttarak, R. , & Scherbov, S. (2020). Assessing the potential impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy. PLOS ONE 15 (9), e0238678. 10.1371/journal.pone.0238678.

Borderon, M., Sakdapolrak, P., Muttarak, R. , Kebede, E., Pagogna, R., & Sporer, E. (2019). Migration influenced by environmental change in Africa: A systematic review of empirical evidence. Demographic Research 41 (18), 491-544. 10.4054/DemRes.2019.41.18.

Lutz, W., Amran, G., Belanger, A., Conte, A., Gailey, N., Ghio, D., Grapsa, E., Jensen, K., Loichinger, E., Marois, G. , Muttarak, R. , Potančoková, M. , Sabourin, P., & Stonawski, M. (2019). Demographic Scenarios for the EU: Migration, population and education. Publications Office of the European Union

Hoffmann, R., Dimitrova, A., Muttarak, R. , & Crespo Cuaresma, J. (2019). Quantifying the Evidence on Climate Migration: A Meta-Analysis on Country-Level Studies. In: Population Association of American Annual Meeting, 10-13 April 2019, Austin, Texas.

Muttarak, R. & Dimitrova, A. (2019). Climate change and seasonal floods: potential long-term nutritional consequences for children in Kerala, India. BMJ Global Health 4 (2), e001215. 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001215.

Abel, G. , Brottrager, M., Crespo Cuaresma, J., & Muttarak, R. (2019). Climate, conflict and forced migration. Global Environmental Change 54, 239-249. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.12.003.

van der Leeuw, S., Aguiar, A.P., Berg, L., Buscaglia, D., Busch, S., Chabay, I., Ebi, K., Goujon, A. , Haberl, H., Messner, D., Miola, A., Murray, K., Muttarak, R. , Nakicenovic, N. , Popp, A., Puyana, J.M., Rauchenwald, V., Scheelbeek, P., Schmidt, J., Sellers, S., Svedin, U., Vafeidis, A., & Verburg, G. (2019). The Challenge Ahead: Non-Linear Interactions in Current Societal Dynamics. GSTIC

Muttarak, R. (2018). Too few nutrients and too many calories: climate change and the double burden of malnutrition in Asia. Asian Population Studies 15 (1), 1-7. 10.1080/17441730.2018.1543960.

Abel, G. , Brottrager, M., Crespo Cuaresma, J., & Muttarak, R. (2018). Climate, Conflict and Forced Migration. WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna

Bengtsson, S., Barakat, B., Muttarak, R. , & Kebede, E. (2018). Education and the sustainable development agenda. IIASA Policy Brief. Laxenburg, Austria: PB-19

Puma, M., Chon, S.Y., Kakinuma, K., Kummu, M., Muttarak, R. , Seager, R., & Wada, Y. (2018). A developing food crisis and potential refugee movements. Nature Sustainability 1 (8), 380-382. 10.1038/s41893-018-0123-z.

Borderon, M., Sakdapolrak, P., Muttarak, R. , Kebede, E., Pagogna, R., & Sporer, E. (2018). A systematic review of empirical evidence on migration influenced by environmental change in Africa. IIASA Working Paper. Laxenburg, Austria: WP-18-003

Abel, G. , Muttarak, R. , Bordone, V., & Zagheni, E. (2018). Bowling Together: Scientific Collaboration Networks of Demographers at European Population Conferences. European Journal of Population 35 (3), 543-562. 10.1007/s10680-018-9493-1.

TWI2050 - The World in 2050, (2018). Transformations to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Report prepared by The World in 2050 initiative. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

Muttarak, R. (2018). Normalization of plus size and the danger of unseen overweight and obesity in England. Obesity 26 (7), 1125-1129. 10.1002/oby.22204.

Jakobsson, N., Muttarak, R. , & Schoyen, M.A. (2018). Dividing the pie in the eco-social state: Exploring the relationship between public support for environmental and welfare policies. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space 36 (2), 313-339. 10.1177/2399654417711448.

Bengtsson, S., Barakat, B., & Muttarak, R. (2018). The Role of Education in Enabling the Sustainable Development Agenda. Routledge. ISBN 9781138307957

Abel, G. , Bordone, V., Muttarak, R. , & Zagheni, E. (2018). Bowling Together: Scientific Collaboration Network of Demographers at European Population Conferences. Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences VID Working Paper 01/2018

Muttarak, R. (2017). Moving Along the Belt and Road: Implications of China’s “One Belt, One Road” Strategies on Chinese Migration (沿“一帶一路”的移動：“一帶一路”戰略對中國人口遷移影響). Translocal Chinese: East Asian Perspectives 11 (2), 312-332. 10.1163/24522015-01102007.

Hoffmann, R. & Muttarak, R. (2017). Learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future: Impacts of Education and Experience on Disaster Preparedness in the Philippines and Thailand. World Development 96, 32-51. 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.02.016.

Qi, W., Abel, G. , Muttarak, R. , & Liu, S. (2017). Circular visualization of China’s internal migration flows 2010–2015. Environment and Planning A 49 (11), 2432-2436. 10.1177/0308518X17718375.

Qi, W., Muttarak, R. , & Abel, G. (2017). Bilateral Migration Measures. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-17-014

Muttarak, R. (2017). Potential Implications of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ Strategies on Chinese International Migration. Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences VID Working Paper 5/2017

Muttarak, R. (2017). Focusing on demographic differential vulnerability. In: Population-Environment Research Network Cyberseminar, “Culture, Beliefs and the Environment”, 15-19 May 2017.

Lutz, W. & Muttarak, R. (2017). Forecasting societies’ adaptive capacities through demographic metabolism model. Nature Climate Change 7 (3), 177-184. 10.1038/NCLIMATE3222.

Flatø, M., Muttarak, R. , & Pelser, A. (2017). Women, Weather, and Woes: The Triangular Dynamics of Female-Headed Households, Economic Vulnerability, and Climate Variability in South Africa. World Development 90, 41-62. 10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.08.015.

Chankrajang, T. & Muttarak, R. (2017). Green Returns to Education: Does Schooling Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviours? Evidence from Thailand. Ecological Economics 131, 434-448. 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.09.015.

Muttarak, R. & Chankrajang, T. (2016). Who is concerned and does something about climate change? Gender and education divide among Thais. In: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2015. Eds. Muttarak, R. & Jiang, L., pp. 193-220 Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Oesterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 13: 978-3-7001-8007-4

Muttarak, R. & Jiang, L. (2016). Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2015. Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Oesterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-8007-4

Muttarak, R. , Lutz, W., & Jiang, L. (2016). What can demographers contribute to the study of vulnerability? In: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2015. Eds. Muttarak, R. & Jiang, L., pp. 1-13 Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Oesterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 13: 978-3-7001-8007-4

Zagheni, E., Muttarak, R. , & Strießnig, E. (2016). Differential mortality patterns from hydro-meteorological disasters: Evidence from cause-of-death data by age and sex. In: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2015. Eds. Muttarak, R. & Jiang, L., pp. 47-70 Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Oesterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-8007-4

Ghislandi, S. & Muttarak, R. (2016). Fair choices in universal health coverage in Thailand. The Lancet 388 (10050), 1155-1156. 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31608-7.

Gallus, S., Ascuitto, R., Muttarak, R. , Pacifici, R., La Vecchia, C., & Lugo, A. (2016). Which group of smokers is more vulnerable to the economic crisis? Public Health 134 (7), 34-38. 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.11.023.

Kumar, A., Bordone, V., & Muttarak, R. (2016). Like Mother(-in-Law) Like Daughter? Influence of the Older Generation’s Fertility Behaviours on Women’s Desired Family Size in Bihar, India. European Journal of Population, 1-32. 10.1007/s10680-016-9379-z.

Barakat, B., Bengtsson, S., Muttarak, R. , & Kebede, E. (2016). Modelling SDG scenarios for Educational Attainment and Development. CESDEG: Education for all Global Monitoring Report (EFA-GMR). Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, VID/ÖAW, WU)

Abel, G. & Muttarak, R. (2015). When the Well Runs Dry, Where Do We Go Now? Exploring Internal Migration due to Climate Stress in Asia and Central and South America. In: Systems Analysis 2015 - A Conference in Celebration of Howard Raiffa, 11 -13 November, 2015, Laxenburg, Austria.

Abel, G.J. , Bauer, R., Berghammer, C., Cantele, M., Fliegenschnee, K., Gisser, R., Janisch, L., Krivanek, D., Muttarak, R. , Potančoková, M. , Skirbekk, V., Sobotka, T., Speringer, M., Stanowski, M., Testa, M.R., & Zeman, K. (2015). Religions in Vienna in the Past, Present and Future - Key Findings from the WIREL Project. WIREL Project, Vienna Institute of Demography

Witvorapong, N., Muttarak, R. , & Pothisiri, W. (2015). Social participation and disaster risk reduction behaviors in tsunami prone areas. PLoS ONE 10 (7), e0130862. 10.1371/journal.pone.0130862.

Muttarak, R. , Steiber, N., & Gallus, S. (2015). Smoking ban in Austria: a long overdue step but still a lot to be done. The Lancet 385 (9972), 941-942. 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60521-9.

Muttarak, R. & Testa, M.R. (2015). Trends and patterns of inter-religious partnerships in Austria (1971-2001): The role of secularization and demographic changes. In: Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2015. Eds. Skirbekk,, B.J. Grim, T.M. Johnson, V. & (Eds.), G.A. Zurlo, Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004294318

Gallus, S., Ghislandi, S., & Muttarak, R. (2015). Effects of the economic crisis on smoking prevalence and number of smokers in the USA. Tobacco Control 24 (1), 82-88. 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050856.

Skirbekk, V., Stonawski, M., Fukuda, S., Spoorenberg, T., Hackett, C., & Muttarak, R. (2015). Is Buddhism the low fertility religion of Asia? Demographic Research 32 (1), 1-28. 10.4054/DemRes.2015.32.1.

Arpino, B., Muttarak, R. , & Vitali, A. (2015). Comparing living arrangements of immigrant young adults in Spain and the United States. In: Spatial Mobility, Migration, and Living Arrangemens. Eds. Huinink,, C.M. Aybek, H. & Muttarak, R. , pp. 161-187 Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-10021-010.1007/978-3-319-10021-0_8.

Aybek, C.M., Huinink, J., & Muttarak, R. (2015). Migration, spatial mobility, and living arrangements: An introduction. In: Spatial Mobility, Migration, and Living Arrangemens. Eds. Huinink,, C.M. Aybek, H. & Muttarak, R. , pp. 1-9 Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-10021-010.1007/978-3-319-10021-0_1.

Aybek, C.M., Huinink, J., & Muttarak, R. (2015). Spatial Mobility, Migration, and Living Arrangements. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-10020-3

Lutz, W., Muttarak, R. , & Striessnig, E. (2014). Universal education is key to enhanced climate adaptation. Science 346 (6213), 1061-1062. 10.1126/science.1257975.

Muttarak, R. & Chankrajang, T. (2014). Demographic Differentials in the Concern about Climate Change and Engagement in Climate-friendly Behaviours. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-14-018

K.C., S., Lutz, W., Loichinger, E., Muttarak, R. , & Striessnig, E. (2014). Reducing vulnerability in critical life course phases by enhancing human capital. In: Safeguarding Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities, Building Resilience. Eds. Malik, K., New York: UNDP Human Development Report Office. ISBN 978-92-1-126384-8

Basten, S., Muttarak, R. , & Pothisiri, W. (2014). "The persistence of parent repayment" and the anticipation of filial obligations of care in two Thai provinces. Asian Social Work and Policy Review 8 (2), 109-122. 10.1111/aswp.12028.

Muttarak, R. , Hamill, H., Heath, A., & McCrudden, C. (2014). L'action positive est-elle efficace? Une evaluation empirique du programme pour l'equite dans l'eploi en Irlande du Nord. In: Politiques antidiscriminatoires. Eds. Ringelheim, J., Herman, G., & (Eds.), A. Rea, Louvain-la-Neuve: De Boeck. ISBN 9782804185329

Muttarak, R. & Lutz, W. (2014). Is education a key to reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and hence unavoidable climate change? Ecology and Society 19 (1), p. 42. 10.5751/ES-06476-190142.

K.C., S., Lutz, W., Loichinger, E., Muttarak, R. , & Striessnig, E. (2014). Reducing Vulnerability in Critical Life Course Phases through Enhancing Human Capital. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-14-001

Kumar, A., Bordone, V., & Muttarak, R. (2014). Influence of Older Generation's Fertility Behaviours on Daughter's Desired Family Size in Bihar, India. VID Working Paper 04/2014. Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria

Muttarak, R. (2014). Generation, ethnic and religious diversity in friendship choice: Exploring interethnic close ties in Britain. Ethnic and Racial Studies 37 (1), 71-98. 10.1080/01419870.2014.844844.

Garbero, A. & Muttarak, R. (2013). Impacts of the 2010 droughts and floods on community welfare in rural Thailand: Differential effects of village educational attainment. Ecology and Society 18 (4) 10.5751/ES-05871-180427.

Muttarak, R. & Pothisiri, W. (2013). The role of education on disaster preparedness: Case study of 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes on Thailand's Andaman Coast. Ecology and Society 18 (4) 10.5751/ES-06101-180451.

Witvorapong, N., Muttarak, R. , & Pothisiri, W. (2013). Social Participation and Disaster Risk Reduction Behaviours: Case Study of Tsunami-risk Areas in Southern Thailand. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-13-019

Muttarak, R. , Hamill, H., Heath, A., & McCrudden, C. (2013). Does affirmative action work? Evidence from the operation of fair employment legislation in Northern Ireland. Sociology 47 (3), 560-579. 10.1177/0038038512453799.

Muttarak, R. (2012). Understanding Community Social Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation: Phang Nga Province, Thailand Case Study. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.