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Mongolia Corner

Resources on research & studies

GerHub is proud to be part of communities around the globe exploring Mongolia, especially ger areas (semi-formal urban settlements, named after “ger” – nomadic dwelling type). Given its semi-formal nature, studies are limited and existing studies not known to public. GerHub is dedicating the “Mongolia Corner” for those who love Mongolia to gain more insight on ger area communities and their challenges and opportunities. Many organizations, researchers, and curious individuals have dedicated their time to looking into a wide variety of aspects of ger areas of Ulaanbaatar and advocating research-based transformation.

If you have come across studies and research on ger areas, please contact us at info@gerhub.org to add them to our resources!

Aurora Alexandra Macrae-Crerar (University of Pennsylvania)
Space, Time and Change: Investigations of Soil Bacterial Diversity and its Drivers in the Mongolian Steppe
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The most biodiverse habitat on the planet and the key component of terrestrial ecosystems, which are being altered by changes in climate and land use. In order to understand the potential consequences of these changes, we conducted a multi-year experiment to test the effects of global change on soil bacterial communities in northern Mongolia, a region where air temperatures have increased by 1.7 °C since 1960, and traditional land-use patterns are shifting with socio-economic changes.

 

 

This research analyzed the collaboration — or lack thereof — between Citizens’ Groups and the local government within the ger areas of Ulaanbaatar. The authors found that residents of the ger areas were interested in working with the local government but often found their grassroots organization efforts stymied by bureaucracy, local politics, and frequent office turnover. Strengthening the relationship between Citizens’ Groups and the kholoo government is key as local residents best understand the issues.

 

Bayartsetseg Terbish (National University of Mongolia), Margot Rawsthorne (University of Sydney)
The State and Civil Society: the case of Citizens’ Groups in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Ricelli Laplace Resende (Kyoto University, Japan), Erdenebuyan Enkhjargal (Doshisha University, Japan)
Will the next generation live in gers? Children’s perspective on the future of Mongolian tradition dwellings in urbanizing times
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This study finds that most children living out in the countryside view their future lives as being based in urban areas, specifically Ulaanbaatar. Gender, economic conditions, and geographical isolation influenced the children’s responses, but regardless, less than a quarter of the respondents drew a ger as their ideal future living environment.

 

 

This study finds a lack of planned public open spaces in the ger districts, and instead observes that residents have repurposed places such as water kiosks, wide ended streets, traditional structures called ‘ovoo’, and open areas near flood walls into gathering spots. The study authors advocate for the implementation of improvements such as pavement and benches in order to make these already existing spaces more functional and comfortable.

 

Enkhbaatar Bolortsetseg, A. Uelun, B. Ariunjargalan (Mongolian University of Science and Technology)
Public Open Spaces in Informal Settlement and Resident’s Need: Case Study of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Batkhishig Adilbish, Bayartsetseg Terbish, Oyuntsetseg Dugarsuren, Burenjargal Tegshee, Oyunkhand Shagdar (National University of Mongolia)
Citizen Groups in Mongolia - possibilities and barriers
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This research examines the position and success of Citizen Groups (CGs) in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar.  In particular, the authors discuss how beneficial CGs can be for their members in terms of emotional and economic security while also discussing the lack of collaborative partnerships between CGs and governments, NGOs, and businesses.  The research indicates both the need for greater support for CGs and the powerful role that women play in these organizations.

 

 

This ethnographic study followed two women living in the ger district: a mother of three trying to maintain her property boundaries despite the lack of official recognition and a local unit leader navigating the political scene of gift gifting and bribery in order to bring the best benefits to her constituents. Both women’s lives highlighted the constantly negotiated reality of the ger districts as well as the nature of the peripheral Mongolian capitalistic system.

 

Rebekah Plueckhahn (University College London), Bayartsetseg Terbish (National University of Mongolia)
Negotiation, social indebtedness, and the making of urban economies in Ulaanbaatar
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Jean Caldieron (Florida Atlantic University), Rick Miller (UCLA)
Residential Satisfaction in the Informal Neighborhoods of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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This study analyzed the relative satisfaction that ger residents had with their living conditions and homes. The survey found that residents were split fairly equally between being satisfied, in the middle, or unsatisfied with their housing, with factors such as proximity to good roads and services, and type of house impacting responses. 61% of respondents would like to move to an apartment, which the authors argued are viewed as homes for the wealthy in Mongolia.

 

 

This paper elaborates and expands on the survey data collected for the above research paper. In particular, it highlights survey responses in percentage of householders with a fixed domicile for the first time, land tenure, rooms per dwelling, number of inhabitants per dwelling, dwelling main structural material, who built the dwelling, sanitary services, a dedicated space to prepare food, energy source for heating, energy source for cooking, and Mongolian housing preferences.

 

Jean M. Caldieron (Florida Atlantic University)
Ger Districts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: Housing and Living Condition Surveys
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Bayartsetseg Terbish (National University of Mongolia), Margot Rawsthorne (University of Sydney)
Social Exclusion in the Ger Districts of Ulaanbaatar
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This study identified main components leading to the social exclusion of ger district residents: limited accessibility and public transportation, limited access to bank credit due to not owning land privately, territorial disorganization and the poorly developed address system, and a need for institutions to advocate to them but a lack of knowledge about the existence of such institutions.  All of this has resulted in a communication disconnect between ger district residents and central city government.

 

 

This study used mapping imagery taken over many years to analyze the development of the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar. The study found that ger districts, from a period of 1990 to 2013, go through developmental stages the authors described as infancy, consolidation, and then maturity.  They identified distinct spatial patterns of informal settlement —spillover, linear aggregation, leap-frogging, and infill development — to describe how the ger districts have been settled and improved by their residents.

 

Hogeun Park (University of California, San Diego), Peilei Fan (Michigan State University), Ranjeet John (University of South Dakota), Zutao Ouyang (Stanford University), Jiquan Chen (Michigan State University)
Spatiotemporal changes of informal settlements: Ger districts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Mungunegshig Erdenechimeg, Erdenebat Tuvshintur, Dong Wei (Southeast University, China)
On Ger Area Informal Settlement Redevelopment Planning of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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This research analyzed the infrastructure, service, and environmental differences between the different ger district regions, defined as the central ger area, middle ger area, and fringe ger area.  The authors found a severe lack of environmental protections in all ger areas, but an increasing scarcity of infrastructure and services further into the periphery.  This research emphasizes the need for comprehensive urban planning as opposed to the current decentralized system of khoroo and kheseg.

 

 

This research analyzes two Mongolian welfare programs and how they impact ger district residents.  The first program awards money to every child, and is both popular and helpful to impoverished families, but is frowned upon by international money lenders.  By contrast, the second program which awards food stamps after a complex application process, is unpopular and ineffective at providing necessary aid, despite international banks promoting it as the future of Mongolian social welfare.

 

Elizabeth Fox (University of Cambridge)
Child Money and Food Stamps: A comparative analysis of Mongolian welfare programmers in the Ger Districts of Ulaanbaatar
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Saruul Ishdorj (Seoul National University), Moonseo Park (Seoul National University), Minhyuk Jung (Seoul National University), Bosik Son (Namseoul University)
Sustainable housing programs for improving ger areas in Ulaanbaatar: Using multi-criteria decision analysis approach
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This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) to statistically analyze which housing program would be best suited for Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts.  The authors utilized data from other developing nations to aggregate a model solution for Mongolia.  The results found that joint redevelopment was the most preferred program, followed by multi-help housing, social housing, new settlement, public rental housing, and lastly self-help housing.

 

 

This study analyzes why air pollution in Ulaanbaatar has not improved despite efforts from both the Mongolian government and international organizations.  The authors find there is a gap between the policies proposed and the lived reality in ger areas where most of the pollution is being generated.  Contrary to government claims, ger area residents are both aware and concerned about pollution and, when given an opportunity, offer multiple solutions that could be utilized as policy.

 

Bonjun Koo (Kyoto University), Jong-Il Na (Korea Disaster Relief Association), Throstur Thorsteinsson (University of Iceland), Ana Maria Cruz (Kyoto University)
Participatory Approach to Gap Analysis between Policy and Practice Regarding Air Pollution in Ger Areas of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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David Engel (SIT Study Abroad Undergraduate Researcher)
Ulaanbaatar’s Ger District Issues: Changes and Attitudes
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This study collected data relating to attitudes about the ger districts, both from current residents and those living within Ulaanbaatar’s core. The results showed both that many ger district residents would prefer to live in an apartment and, paradoxically, that they were satisfied with their current home.  Pollution and lack of connection to infrastructure were consistently cited issues; regardless, a quarter of city core residents surveyed expressed a desire to move to the ger districts.

 

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