Research Group for Regional Development Policies

Introduction

The working group focus on environmental, health, and social issues associated with regional development policies and strategies. Our research projects include studies aimed at investigating social acceptability and sustainability of development plans, policies and strategies. Our second area of research is related to social conflicts associated with the siting of unwanted facilities (e.g., power plants, waste management facilities, highways). The group pays special attention to the methods of social dialogue and public participation, and to the experiences of their application in Hungary. Examples for major projects include, but are not restricted to the following: (1) Long-term Environmental Plan of Hungary, (2) Social Impact Assessment of  Inter-basin Water Transfer to Lake Balaton, (3) Environmental Assessment of Hungary (KéP) – the development of social indicators, (4) Flood Risk Management Policy for the Upper Tisza region (IIASA project), (5) Social Vulnerability to Flood Risks (UNU EHS project), (6) the Safe Food EU6 project, and (7) the COWAM2 (Community Waste Management) EU6 project.

Head of Research Group

  Vári, Anna, C.Sc.

Researchers

  Csizmady, Adrienne, Ph.D.
  Ferencz Zoltán, Ph.D. student
  Várnai, Gábor

Associated researchers

  Erőss, Gábor, Ph.D.
  Gárdos, Judit, Ph.D. student
  Kárpáti, Zoltán, C.Sc.
  Laki, Ildikó, Ph.D. 
  Szirmai, Viktória, D.Sc.
  Váradi, Zsuzsanna, Ph.D. student