The Wittgenstein Centre combines the partners’ strengths in the fields of demography, human capital formation and analysis of the returns to education. It builds on a highly successful collaboration that has already generated significant scientific advances. “Human capital” refers to the human resource base in terms of the number of people and their changing structure by age, gender, location, education, health status, cognitive skills and other relevant characteristics. Our intent is to provide a sound scientific foundation for decision-making at various levels.

The 5-year report entitled "Integrating Research of Three Pillar Institutions 2008–2012" introduces these efforts by presenting achievements and results as well as core scientists and their focus.

Download the 5-year Report here

For several weeks in February, Wolfgang Lutz is meeting and working with colleagues and government officials in Singapore and giving several lectures for academics, students, and the general public. In addition, WIC demographer Bilal Barakat is spending a period of four months at the National University of Singapore to further strengthen collaboration on the analysis of education trends in India, China and Indonesia.

On 13 February, Lutz will speak at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, addressing the question, “Is Singapore’s Birth Rate too low?” That seemingly simple question is actually quite complex, depending on migration, life expectancy, and education levels, as well as economic factors. Event information.

On 18 February Lutz will give the prestigious NUSS Professorship Lecture on the topic “Singapore: Population and Human Capital”. This public lecture has been widely announced and given the current heated debates about population in Singapore has already drawn significant media attention. Event information.

On 19 February, Lutz will give a third invited lecture at the Institute of Policy Studies . In this lecture he will discuss fertility decline around the world, as well as the positive and negative impacts of this trend. In particular, Lutz will discuss how education and other factors can impact society, and how to determine what level of fertility is desirable from an economic point of view. Event information.

Photo: © IIASA 2012