Egbert Jongen

Egbert Jongen is Professor of Economics and Socio-Economic Policy at Leiden University. He maintains significant professional affiliations including Research Fellow at IZA, Research Associate at the IFS, and Associate Editor at Fiscal Studies. Prior to his current position, he worked for 25 years at the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB).

His research focuses on:

• Tax-benefit systems and behavioral responses to policy changes
• Income inequality across multiple dimensions
• Gender earnings gaps and the child penalty phenomenon
• Migration background and persistent income disparities
• Intergenerational mobility and inequality patterns

Jongen utilizes high-quality Dutch administrative data combined with rich survey information, applying both structural models and quasi-experimental methods to analyze how individuals respond to tax policies. His work challenges the common perception of the Netherlands as an exceptionally egalitarian society, revealing substantial increases in household income inequality, persistent gender earnings gaps, and significant income differences by migration background that continue across generations.

His methodological approach combines behavioral response estimates with labor market data to evaluate tax-benefit system optimality using the inverse-optimal tax method. This innovative approach allows him to identify potentially suboptimal elements in the tax system for both the general population and specific demographic subgroups.

His notable professional recognitions include:

• Research Fellow at IZA (Institute of Labor Economics)
• Research Associate at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
• Associate Editor position at Fiscal Studies journal

Jongen remains actively engaged in cutting-edge research, with an upcoming visit to CESifo in March 2025 where he will present work on behavioral effects of tax-benefit reforms and collaborate on optimal taxation approaches, particularly for couples in dual-earner households.