I am a quantitative researcher working on inequality, poverty, and social policy. My research themes include inequality in education and the labour market, child poverty, and social policy. The geographic focus of my research is on Europe and Africa.
I am currently a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the European University Institute (EUI), working in the project WellSIRe (Wellbeing Returns on Social Investment Recalibration). As part of the WellSIRe project, I study the potential of social investment policies to smoothen life-course transitions and reduce poverty and social inequalities in Europe. In addition to academic research, I teach quantitative methods, inequality and public policy, and social protection analysis.
Before joining the EUI, I worked as a social and economic policy analyst at the Unicef Office of Research (2011-2014) and at the Economic Policy Research Institute (2015-2016) where I carried out research on the measurement and analysis of child poverty and social policy. My work also involved leading regional and national workshops on poverty measurement for UNICEF regional and country offices and local partners.
I obtained my PhD in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute (EUI) under the supervision of Prof. Fabrizio Bernardi. I also hold a Master of Science in Public Governance and Human Development, with a specialisation in Social Protection Design, obtained at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Maastricht University.
Please visit my personal website for more information about my research at www.ilzeplavgo.com.