Bas Machielsen

Bas Machielsen is an Assistant Professor in Applied Economics at the Department of Economics within the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance at Utrecht University. His academic work bridges economic history and political economy with modern data science methodologies, focusing specifically on Dutch institutional contexts and historical political systems.

His research centers on the intersection of political behavior and economic incentives, examining how financial motivations influence voting patterns among politicians and how political careers impact personal wealth accumulation. He investigates long-term economic transformations through historical case studies, with particular attention to labor dynamics including the political economy of strikes. His methodological approach integrates applied data science techniques to analyze complex historical datasets, revealing patterns in elite behavior and institutional change.

Analysis of his publication record (2013-2023) demonstrates consistent thematic focus on Dutch political-economic history, with recurring investigations into wealth distribution, institutional corruption, and political career returns. His work shows increasing methodological sophistication in applying data science to historical questions, particularly regarding democratization processes and economic development during industrialization periods. The research consistently connects micro-level individual behavior with macro-level institutional transformations.

Dr. Machielsen contributed to the NWO-funded project "Investment behaviour, political change and economic growth in the Netherlands, 1780-1920" (2017-2020) as a researcher, analyzing wealth holdings of Dutch political elites during industrialization. He teaches core courses including "Empirical Economics" and "Introduction to Applied Data Science," emphasizing practical analytical skills for economic research. His collaborative work involves prominent scholars including Prof. Dr. Oscar Gelderblom and Prof. Dr. Joost Jonker.