Luca De Benedictis is a Professor of International Economics and Network Analysis at the University of Macerata's Department of Economics and Law. His research focuses on international trade empirics, including trade specialization measurement, network analysis, and causal models. He has authored numerous articles on topics like gravity models, migration impacts, and historical trade networks. His work spans journals such as the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society and Network Science . He teaches courses in International Economics and Network Analysis. His research interests include economic geography, policy evaluation, and applied econometrics. Notable projects include analyzing the Erasmus Program's inclusivity, Roman road networks' legacy, and immigration's effect on trade. De Benedictis has secured funding from EU initiatives like COSTNET and GeComplexity, focusing on network data science and economic systems. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Italian Economic Journal and Journal of Historical Network Research . His work bridges theoretical models with empirical applications in trade, migration, and policy.
Giuseppe Fontana is an Associate Professor of Political Economy (SECS-P/01) at the University of Sannio (UNISANNIO) in the Department of Law, Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM). He has maintained an active research profile for over two decades, establishing himself as a significant contributor to Post-Keynesian economics and monetary theory. His research interests include: Post-Keynesian Economics Monetary Theory and Endogenous Money Macroeconomic Policy and Financial Stability Financialization and Socioeconomic Impacts Economic Methodology and History of Economic Thought International Trade and Exchange Rate Theory Stock-Flow Consistent Modeling Fontana's scholarly trajectory demonstrates a consistent focus on heterodox economic approaches, particularly Post-Keynesian theory. His work evolved from theoretical contributions in the early 2000s to increasingly policy-relevant analyses of contemporary economic challenges. His recent publications show special attention to the Eurozone crisis, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European economies, and the theoretical foundations of monetary production. He frequently employs stock-flow consistent modeling to provide comprehensive analyses of macroeconomic phenomena, challenging mainstream economic frameworks with alternative theoretical perspectives. Fontana has established important collaborations with scholars like Emiliano Brancaccio, Riccardo Realfonzo, and Marc Lavoie, demonstrating his integration within international networks of heterodox economists. His work has been published in leading heterodox economics journals including the Cambridge Journal of Economics, Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, and Review of Political Economy, as well as in edited volumes with major academic publishers like Palgrave Macmillan and Edward Elgar.
Alexia Delfino serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Bocconi University, with affiliations spanning CEPR DEV & OE, J-PAL, IZA, IGIER, LEAP, CESIfo, and BAFFI. She maintains a dual research presence as Visiting Research Fellow at STICERD. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (2020). Delfino operates at the intersection of Development, Organizational, and Behavioral Economics, employing experimental and survey methodologies to investigate how social norms, institutions, and identity shape labor market disparities and organizational productivity. Her fieldwork spans both developed and developing economies, with particular emphasis on gender dynamics in entrepreneurship and workplace culture. Recent projects examine trauma's impact on economic decision-making and value alignment in corporate environments. Her publication trajectory reveals a consistent focus on gender economics and institutional analysis, with increasing methodological sophistication in field experiments and cross-national comparisons. The 2024-2025 publications demonstrate expansion into historical data analysis and team dynamics while maintaining core themes of gender barriers and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Recognition includes: UniCredit Foundation Best Paper Award on Gender Economics (2021) Research funding reflects policy relevance through partnerships with major development institutions: J-PAL Global Economic Affairs and Policy & Performance Evaluation Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Exploratory and Research Grants LEAP and Weiss Fund support for gender-focused field experiments IGA-Rockefeller Research and Impact Fund for trauma economics research She leads international collaborations examining reskilling interventions in Italy, lactation infrastructure in Kenya, and teenage job experimentation in Switzerland, demonstrating strong cross-institutional research networks with Harvard, LSE, and World Bank affiliates.
Imran Rasul is a Professor of Economics at University College London (UCL) and Director of the ESRC Institute for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). He co-directs the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre on Wealth Concentration, Inequality, and the Economy at UCL, and is Co-President of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). His research focuses on labor economics, development economics, and public policy, with notable contributions to understanding inequality, tax compliance, and field experiments in development. He has held editorial roles at leading journals, including the Review of Economic Studies and the Journal of the European Economic Association. Rasul has received prestigious awards such as the Yrjö Jahnsson Award (2019), IZA Young Labour Economist Prize (2007), and an ERC Starter Grant (2012). He is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Academy of Social Sciences, and the Econometric Society. His work often combines rigorous empirical methods with policy relevance, addressing topics like gender empowerment, youth unemployment, and public service delivery in developing economies. Affiliations: UCL, IFS, BREAD Editorial Roles: Co-editor, Review of Economic Studies (2009-2017); Past Managing Editor, Journal of the European Economic Association (2016-2022) Leadership Roles: President-elect of the Royal Economic Society (2024), Vice-President of the European Economic Association (2024) His research interests span labor market dynamics, development interventions, and the design of effective public policies. He has advised on projects globally, including in Uganda, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, focusing on issues like job creation, tax compliance, and educational equity.
Ivan Franceschini is a Research Fellow at the Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Australian National University's Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. His work focuses on Chinese labor movements, civil society, and political transformations. University: Ca' Foscari University of Venice Department: Department of Asian and North African Studies Email: ivan.franceschini@unive.it Franceschini's research spans labor activism, NGO strategies, and historical narratives in China. His publications in journals like The China Quarterly and Pacific Affairs analyze state-labor relations, digital activism, and garment industry exploitation. He co-edits the Made in China Journal , exploring labor and civil society dynamics. Key article trends include comparative labor studies across China and Cambodia, legal mobilization by workers, and historical reinterpretations such as the Taiping Rebellion. His 2019 work on collective bargaining and 2018 comparative analysis of garment workers highlight systemic labor challenges.
Katia Furlotti is a Full Professor at the Department of Economics and Business Sciences, University of Parma, with a career spanning over 15 years in academia. Her research focuses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business Ethics, Corporate Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, and the History of Accounting, particularly in Italian contexts. She has led numerous empirical studies on CSR disclosure practices, gender diversity in governance, and ethical code development for SMEs and non-profits. Education: PhD in 'Determination and Communication of Value in Companies' (2010), Master's in Business Administration (2006), and Degree in Business Economics (2003) from University of Parma. Her research explores CSR disclosure mechanisms, ethical governance structures, and historical accounting practices in institutions like Parma's Teatro Regio and Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma. Recent studies analyze mandatory gender quotas, CSR vs. business ethics, and board evaluation processes. Key scientific awards include the 2006/2007 ASCAI Award and the Mirella Valentini Scholarship for her Master's thesis. She has served as Vice Direttore of her department and as Quality Assurance Officer for undergraduate programs.
Federico Demaria is a Researcher at the Environmental Science and Technology Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He focuses on ecological economics, political ecology, and environmental justice, advocating for socio-ecological transformation beyond economic growth. As a founding member of Research & Degrowth and a board member of the European Society for Ecological Economics, he bridges academic research with activism. His current role includes deputy coordination of the ERC-funded EnvJustice project, studying global environmental justice movements. Research emphasizes waste management conflicts, informal recyclers' roles, and degrowth alternatives. Key publications include Decrecimiento: Vocabulario para una nueva era and Pluriverse: A Post-Development Dictionary , translated into multiple languages. Research interests coalesce around dismantling growth-based paradigms, centering marginalized groups in environmental struggles, and redefining sustainability beyond capitalist modernity. His work critiques extractive systems while proposing pluriversal alternatives grounded in indigenous and communal knowledge. Key Projects: EnvJustice (ERC), Degrowth initiative Key Themes: Waste politics, environmental conflicts, post-development, degrowth economics
Fabio Mazzola serves as Full Professor in the Department of Economics, Business and Statistics at the University of Palermo, concurrently holding the position of Vice Rector for Teaching and Internationalization from 2021 to 2027. His teaching portfolio for 2025/2026 spans Economic Policy across Economics and Business Administration and Economy and Finance programs, alongside specialized courses in Tourism Economics and Regional Policy for Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management. His research centers on Regional Economic Policy with three dominant strands: (1) EU cohesion policy effectiveness through spatial/spillover analyses of Italian regions; (2) Tourism-driven resilience in Mediterranean island economies compared to mainland territories; and (3) Crisis response mechanisms examining public expenditure impacts during economic downturns. Methodologically, he employs advanced panel and spatial econometric techniques for sub-national analysis. Publication trends (2019-2025) reveal consistent focus on regional disparities and policy evaluation , particularly assessing EU funds' additionality in Italy, tourism's role in island recovery, and asymmetric crisis impacts. Over 80% of his recent work analyzes Italian or Mediterranean contexts using NUTS-2/3 spatial units, with increasing emphasis on insular regions since 2020. Professor Mazzola maintains active student engagement through thesis supervision (listed as 'Edited theses' in his profile) and structured office hours on Mondays, though specific advising details remain unpublished. His research operates without documented external funding or awards in the provided materials.
Valentina Ciciliot is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, specializing in the modern history of Catholicism, charismatic Christian movements, and Christianity's relationship with ecology. Her research focuses on topics such as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, papal canonization policies (particularly under John Paul II), and the globalization of Catholicism. She holds a PhD from the University of Reading (UK), an MA from the University of Padua and Ca' Foscari, and a BA from Ca' Foscari University. Her teaching includes courses such as 'Religions and Ecology,' 'North American Christianity,' and 'Historical Writing Laboratory.' Ciciliot has held prestigious fellowships, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowships (2014/2015), and is affiliated with institutions like the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary religious practices, emphasizing transnational dynamics and environmental ethics. Research contributions include monographs on female canonizations and edited volumes on the Catholic Charismatic Movement. She actively participates in international conferences and editorial boards, fostering dialogue between academia and religious institutions. Ciciliot’s research also explores intersections of Catholicism with social justice, environmental advocacy, and global religious pluralism.
Enrico Mariani is an Adjunct Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice , Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies. His research focuses on American literature and cultural studies, with an emphasis on ethnic narratives, California studies, and postcolonial discourse. He holds a PhD in Foreign Languages and Cultures from Roma Tre University (2023) and has taught at institutions including Ca' Foscari, Roma Tre, and the University of Naples Federico II. Research Interests: American literature with a focus on immigrant narratives (John Fante, Carlos Bulosan, Louis Adamic) Cultural and environmental critiques of Los Angeles Postcolonial literature (e.g., Gina Apostol) Interdisciplinary approaches to literary modernism and multilingualism Publications: Recent works include a monograph on ethnic marginalization in 20th-century American narratives ( Americani di seconda classe , 2025), essays on water crises in Los Angeles, and analyses of Gina Apostol’s postcolonial metafiction. His research often intersects with environmental and social justice themes. Awards & Fellowships: Marianne DiPalermo McCauley Visiting Scholar Fellowship (2022) Recipient of the Alexandra De Luise Fellowship (2022) Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator on the EU-funded project "Literary California 1884-2022: Spaces of Exception, Spaces of Disaster" (PRIN-CUP 2023-2025). Teaching: Current courses include History of North American Culture and Cultures and Societies of the English Language at Ca' Foscari.
Noelle Turtur is a Max Weber Fellow at the Department of History, European University Institute, Florence. She is a historian of modern Europe and European empires, with a focus on Italian migration and imperialism through business history. Her current research examines fascist settler colonialism in occupied Ethiopia, analyzing the roles of state power, capital, and transnational labor. She received her doctorate from Columbia University in 2022. Teaching experience includes courses at UCLA and Columbia on imperialism, migration, political economy, and political philosophy. Her research interests include: Modern European History Business History of Empire Fascist Colonialism Transnational Labor and Migration Political Economy of Imperialism Her recent work, including the 2024 article on radical mercantilism in fascist Italy’s East African empire, reflects a strong focus on the intersection of economic structures and imperial power, particularly how African, Ottoman diaspora, and Italian actors shaped colonial enterprises. Themes include state violence, corporatist governance, and the transformation of imperial authority. Noelle is affiliated with research clusters on Finance and Society and Inequality, Welfare and Social Justice . She is mentored by Lucy Riall and Pieter M. Judson, and teaches courses on imperialism and migration. No scientific awards or formal advisees are currently listed.
Donatella Strangio serves as Professor of Economic History and Director of the Department of Methods and Models for the Economy, Territory and Finance (Memotef) at Sapienza University of Rome. She also holds the position of Deputy Rector for Chile and Brazil in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Her academic leadership extends to directing international research projects including the European Project PNRR Changes 5 and the Jean Monnet Project EUMCHA. Her research spans economic development and underdevelopment, financial history, tourism economics, international migration patterns, and colonial-decolonization processes. She examines these topics through historical lenses, particularly focusing on pre-industrial economic systems, 20th century European history, famines, food policies, and institutional evolution. Her work often bridges historical analysis with contemporary policy challenges. Professor Strangio's recent publications demonstrate strong thematic coherence across economic history, with particular emphasis on resilience mechanisms during crises, migration as knowledge transmission, and tourism's economic dimensions. Her scholarship shows consistent engagement with both Italian and global contexts, especially regarding Mediterranean and Latin American connections. She actively mentors through multiple master's programs including the Master in Migration and Development and the Master in Tourism Economics and Management. Her leadership in the Civis short-term courses on Crisis Sustainability and Cultural Heritage Enhancement demonstrates commitment to innovative teaching approaches. Professor Strangio directs significant research initiatives including the Spoke9 of PNRR Cultural Heritage and coordinates the Scientific Guarantee Committee for the 'Repertory of Italian banks from 1861 to today.' Her international collaborations span Columbia University, Universidad de Quilmes, University of Adelaide, London School of Economics, and numerous Latin American institutions.
Jennie Elizabeth Batchelor is a Professor and Head of Department in the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York. Her research focuses on 18th-century women’s writing, literary history, and material culture, with a particular emphasis on periodicals, gender studies, and cultural analysis. She has authored influential books, including The Lady's Magazine (1770-1832) and the Making of Literary History (2022) and Women's Work: Labour, Gender and Authorship, 1750-1830 (2014). Her scholarship spans topics like embroidery in literature, women’s magazines, and the intersection of labor and gender in historical contexts. Batchelor has contributed over 55 publications, blending academic rigor with public engagement through works like Jane Austen Embroidery (2020). Her articles explore themes such as 18th-century dress symbolism, satirical responses to novels, and the role of women’s periodicals in shaping literary communities. Her work has been published in journals like Textile History , Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature , and Women's Writing . She has edited volumes on topics ranging from material culture to women’s memoirs, further solidifying her influence in the fields of British literary history and gender studies.
Thomas Le Barbanchon is a Full Professor of Economics at Bocconi University since 2025 and holds the Rodolfo Debenedetti Chair in Labor Economics. He received his PhD from Ecole Polytechnique (CREST-ENSAE) in 2012 and has been affiliated with institutions like CEPR, CREST, J-PAL, LEAP, BIDSA, IGIER, IZA, and IFS. His research focuses on labor economics, particularly job search mechanisms, unemployment insurance effects, gender disparities, and labor market policy evaluation. Educational background: PhD in Economics (Ecole Polytechnique), MSc in Economics (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Diplôme d'ingénieur statisticien-économiste (ENSAE), and Diplôme d'ingénieur (Ecole Polytechnique) Research highlights include: Quantifying the impact of unemployment insurance reforms in France Analyzing gender differences in job search behavior Studying the effectiveness of hiring credits during economic crises Investigating how traditional AI improves job matching Examining migrant-native job search segregation patterns Scientific contributions appear in top journals like American Economic Journal: Applied Economics , Quarterly Journal of Economics , and Review of Economic Studies . Awards include two ERC grants (2017 & 2024) and the Bocconi Impact Award (2022). He mentors PhD students in economics and labor policy, currently serves as Director of IGIER research center, and maintains active editorial roles at Review of Economic Studies and Journal of the European Economic Association .
Federica CICCI is a Contract Lecturer in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and has recently taken on an adjunct professorship in 'History of Asia and Southeast Asia' at Roma Tre University. Her academic work is deeply rooted in gender history, Chinese studies, and transnational humanitarianism, particularly focusing on women's roles during wartime China (1937–1945). Education: Ph.D. (Magna Cum Laude, 2024): Double Degree, Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Heidelberg University. Research: 'Caring Women: Transnational Activism and Humanitarian Relief Efforts during Wartime China (1937-1945).' M.A. in Languages, Economies and Institutions of Asia and North Africa (110/110 con lode, 2018), Ca' Foscari University of Venice. B.A. in Languages, Culture and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (110/110 con lode, 2016), Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Classical High School Degree (96/100, 2013), Liceo G. Mazzatinti, Gubbio. She also completed multiple exchange programs in China at Renmin University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, and Capital Normal University. Her research interests center on gender, humanitarianism, women's transnational activism, and modern Chinese history . She explores how women navigated war, care, and political ideologies through institutions like the Red Cross and missionary networks. Her work bridges history, gender studies, and international relations, often highlighting silenced female voices in 20th-century China. The analysis of her publications reveals a strong thematic consistency: all recent works examine women’s humanitarian roles during wartime China, with sub-themes including gendered discourse, medical missions, Sino-Vatican relations, and the ideological framing of care. She frequently publishes in Italian and international journals such as DEP. Deportate, Esuli e Profughe and Asia Maior , and presents at major conferences like EACS and AISC. Scientific Awards and Scholarships: 3-year Ph.D. full scholarship from Italian Ministry of University and Ca' Foscari (2019) Erasmus+ funding for research at Heidelberg University (2020–2021) Third prize in 'Chinese Speech Contest' and scholarship at ECNU (2018) Multiple 'Overseas' Program awards from Ca' Foscari for study in China Confucius-Hanban Institute Scholarship Federica CICCI has served as a Teaching Assistant and Faculty Tutor at Ca' Foscari, supporting courses in Chinese history and law. She has not advised any students yet. She has received research grants through Erasmus+ and participated in summer schools and workshops on area studies and gender history. She is an active member of several academic associations and serves on the editorial board of DEP. Deportate, Esuli e Profughe . She is involved in academic communities such as the Associazione Italiana per gli Studi Cinesi (AISC) , European Association of Chinese Studies (EACS) , and Società Italiane delle Storiche (SIS) . She has organized and reported on international conferences, particularly those focusing on women’s transnational activism.
