The Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies (BRISPO) is an interdisciplinary research centre composed of sociologists, demographers, economists, psychologists, statisticians, and human geographers. Its members conduct research on the socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic dimensions of patterns of social inequality within Belgium, Europe, and beyond.
Recent news
EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR PAPERS!!! Degrees in Transition: Higher Education and Labour Market Integration of Newcomers and Refugees
Call for Papers for the Expert Workshop that will take place on 11-12 June 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Interview with Deborah De Moortel on sustainable working environments for women (in Dutch)
In an interview published on the ABVV website, Deborah explains why it is the workplace that needs to change, not women.
Fill in the BRISPO survey for newcomers in Belgium
The survey is aimed at people who have arrived in Belgium less than 10 years ago and do not have Belgian citizenship.
We are hiring: 1 postdoc and 3 phd positions in the ERC project
The positions are offered within the ERC-funded project "EXPULSE – Urban Expulsion Regimes", led by Prof. Eva Swyngedouw.
New publication: Classed Taste and Regional Differentiation in Italian Food
A new article in Cultural Sociology proposes the sociogenetic fields framework, demonstrating that class-based food tastes in Italy are shaped by a historically rooted North–South divide.
New opinion pieces on racism by Pieter‑Paul Verhaeghe
Two opinion pieces (both in Dutch) address different aspects of racism. They were published recently in De Morgen and SamPol.
New publication: Gender attitudes and desired fertility among young women in sub-Saharan Africa
The article by Juliette De Vestel and Sylvie Gadeyne titled "Evolving Gender Attitudes and Fertility Preferences: A Study of Young Women in Five Sub-Saharan African Countries" was published in Studies in Family Planning.
BRISPO Article Among Top 5 Most-Cited papers published in 2025 in "Quality of Life Research”
The review article “The social determinants of health-related quality of life among people with chronic disease: a systematic literature review” by Terhi Kangas, Sara-Lynn Milis, Katrien Vanthomme, and Hadewijch Vandenheede was published in "Quality of Life Research".
Upcoming events
Practical info21/04/2026 - 14:00 - 21/04/2026 - 16:00European Social & Population Issues Lecture Series
21/04/2026: The spatial dimensions of social connectedness | Tulya Su Guven (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Practical info28/04/2026 - 14:00 - 28/04/2026 - 16:00European Social & Population Issues Lecture Series
28/04/2026: Linking loneliness and social isolation to political participation and attitude formation | Alexander Langenkamp (Goethe University Frankfurt) -- This lecture will be only live streamed-
Practical info15/03/2026 - 08:00 - 29/04/2026 - 23:59
EXTENDED Papers submission Deadline on 29/04 - Degrees in Transition: Higher Education and Labour Market Integration of Newcomers and Refugees
Call for Papers for the Expert Workshop that will take place on 11-12 June 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 
Practical info05/05/2026 - 14:00 - 05/05/2026 - 16:00European Social & Population Issues Lecture Series
5/05/2026: Loneliness in young people | Marlies Maes (Utrecht University)
Practical info06/05/2026 - 17:00 - 06/05/2026 - 19:00BRISPO and BIRMM's Movie Nights: "L'histoire de Souleymane"
Join us for free screenings about race, class and imperialism. Pleinlaan 5, 4th floor, Raadszaal.
Practical info12/05/2026 - 14:00 - 12/05/2026 - 16:00European Social & Population Issues Lecture Series
12/05/2026: Interventions to tackle loneliness | Elizabeth Casabianca (Joint Research Centre)
Practical info11/06/2026 - 09:00 - 12/06/2026 - 18:00From Camp to Campus Expert Workshop
Degrees in Transition: Higher Education and Labour Market Integration of Newcomers and Refugees
Top photo: Alex Wasey
