Thomas Dufhues

Dr. Thomas Dufhues is a Researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Europe (IAMO) since 2005, affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Policy. He holds a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Hohenheim (Germany) and has held research positions at Philipps-University of Marburg, Technical University of Munich, and Martin Luther University Halle. His work focuses on rural transformation in Southeast Europe and Central/Southeast Asia, integrating microeconomic theory with empirical analysis of migration, decentralization, social capital, and rural finance. He has contributed to projects like TraFFF (Transnational Families, Farms, and Firms) and RuWell (Rural Wellbeing in Transition).

• Research Interests: Rural institutions, migration dynamics, decentralization, subjective wellbeing, social capital, and rural financial systems.
• Key Projects: Internal migration in Kazakhstan, rural well-being drivers, social comparisons and inequality, status quo bias in farm work, sustainable practices in Uzbekistan.
• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and policy briefs spanning topics like loan repayment performance in Vietnam, participatory governance in Thailand, and migration modeling in Kazakhstan.
• Collaborations: Extensive co-authorship with Judith Möllers, Gertrud Buchenrieder, Diana Traikova, and others in multidisciplinary teams.

Email: dufhues@iamo.de