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
Opinion piece by Tulya Su Güven on the role of public spaces in migrant integration
The op-ed "More Than Work and Housing: Why Public Spaces Are Crucial for Integration" was published on BIRMM's website (in English) and in 'knack' (in Dutch).
The Perception of Names in Experimental Studies on Ethnic Origin: A Cross-National Validation in Europe
This paper - led by Abel Ghiekere, Billie Martiniello and Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe - was published in Nature's Scientific Data.
Leandros Kavadias earns PhD degree
The PhD thesis titled “Paradoxes of the Schooled Society: Investigating the Centrality of Schooling and Its Institutional Effects from a Global Perspective” was supervised by Bram Spruyt, Toon Kuppens, and Susanne Scheibe.
Five Traditions of Quantitative Research on Racism - New review article in Sociology Compass
Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe reviews the research traditions on explicit attitudes, implicit bias, discriminatory behavior, migration policies, racial disparities, and personal experiences of discrimination.
New policy brief about ethnic diversity in the Federal public services
Why are ethnic minorities underrepresented in Belgium’s federal public sector? Read the key findings and recommendations from the FedDiverse project led by Bert Leysen and Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe.
New article “Linked lives and work-family dynamics: gendered workload, family support, and mental well-being among urban Chinese dual-earner households”
The paper by Meixuan Li, Lara Stas, Christophe Vanroelen and Deborah De Moortel was published in the International Journal for Equity in Health.
Public PhD defence of Bryan Boyle
On 23 October 2025, Bryan Boyle successfully defended his doctoral dissertation entitled "Labour of Distinction: Notebooks of an Apprentice Butler".
The hidden costs of labour flexibility
An interview by ACV Puls with Professor Christophe Vanroelen [in Dutch].
Vote for Marloes Hagenaars – Flemish PhD Cup 2025 Audience Award
Our colleague Marloes Hagenaars is one of the eight finalists of the Flemish PhD Cup 2025 – and now the public can vote for their favourite presentation!
Congratulations to Tulya and Edith for obtaining FWO PhD Fellowships!
This year, 13% of all awarded FWO PhD fellowships have been granted to researchers at the VUB.
New publication by Bert Leysen and Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe
New study found no discrimination in the CV-screening phase for governmental vacancies, except for a significant gender bias.
Marloes Hagenaars in the final round of the Flemish PhD Cup 2025
Marloes obtained her PhD in Sociology at Ghent University, and now she works as a post-doc researcher at BRISPO. Congratulations!
Jessie Gevaert (BRISPO) co-authors new article on in-work poverty and mental health
The article "The impact of in-work poverty on mental health: A cohort study of the Swedish population" has been published in Psychiatry Research.
(Male) infertility as a social construct
Lobke Van Ryckeghem discusses in her brief write-up the social construction of (male) infertility.
Top photo: Alex Wasey
