When personal journeys shape research: Spotlight on Akib Khan

Living as an immigrant gave Akib a new lens on the questions he asks. Today, his work focuses on immigration, integration, and labor markets in Sweden (and recently in Luxembourg). Access to detailed population data has also played a key role.

“It’s really a combination of access to excellent data and my own experience living as an immigrant,” he says. “I probably know more about immigration in Sweden than I do about what’s happening in education in Bangladesh now.”

His perspective is also shaped by everyday life outside of academia. While he works in international academic environments, his wife has navigated Swedish society more directly through language and work. That contrast has deepened his understanding of integration.

Since moving to Sweden, Akib has gained new perspectives on immigration and integration. And developed an insatiable craving for sunshine! Photo: Akib Khan.

In an ongoing research project with Mounir Karadja and Linna Martén, Akib studies how conflicts in their country of origin affect expatriates living abroad. The project focuses on Ukrainians who were already living in Sweden before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The findings reveal a complex picture. Mental health deteriorates significantly, reflected in increased use of medication for anxiety, insomnia, and depression. At the same time, labor market behavior shifts in the opposite direction.

“Initially, we see a drop in labor market engagement, likely driven by stress,” he explains. “But over time, we see a robust increase. People work more, often in lower-paid jobs, because they need to support family back home. This is especially true for Ukrainians from more conflict-affected regions.”

The study also shows that local context matters. Ukrainians living in Swedish municipalities that received more refugees experienced somewhat better mental health outcomes, suggesting that community and shared experience can ease the burden.

Akib describes curiosity as his main motivation. For him, research begins with simple questions, sometimes sparked by everyday observations.

“To be honest, I get bored very easily,” he admits. “But you get these moments where everything comes together and you discover something new about the world. They’re rare, but that’s what keeps you going.”

One such question emerged when he read a newspaper article about the 2022 policy reform in Sweden that removed reduced sentences for young adults. He asked himself: how would this impact recruitment into organized crime?

“If you think about it from an economic perspective, what matters is the relative cost,” he says. “If penalties increase for one group, that can make another group relatively more attractive.”

This insight led him to explore whether criminal networks might shift recruitment toward younger individuals as a result. What began as a passing thought is now a funded research project, in collaboration with Erik Lundberg and Daniel Cunha Byström.

Before economics, Akib was drawn to literature and filmmaking. That creative background still influences his work today.

“Research is a different way of storytelling,” he says. “I just have to be a bit more structured about how I do it, especially since I always work with more rational coauthors. Stories are a fundamental part of human experience, and I think every profession, including research, tells stories in different ways.”

That perspective helps make his work accessible and relevant. By connecting data with real human experiences, his research highlights how global events like war and migration shape everyday decisions and lives.

Moving from one of the most densely populated cities in the world to Sweden, Akib has experienced a clear contrast in pace and everyday life. With fewer concerns competing for attention, he finds more space to focus on his research and interests. Looking back on his journey from Dhaka, via Lusaka, to Stockholm, he reflects on how much has changed.

“If I step back and think about it, it’s been quite a ride.”