Javier Fernandez Blanco

Javier Fernandez Blanco is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics and Economic History at the University Autonomous of Barcelona (UAB), affiliated with the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE). He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Minnesota (2008) and degrees in Economics and Mathematics from the Universitat de Barcelona. His research focuses on labor markets, public insurance design, and macroeconomic policy, with a particular interest in unemployment dynamics, household insurance mechanisms, and aging populations.

He has held visiting positions at the University of Toronto (2018-19 as Visiting Associate Professor), UNSW Sydney (2012), and Carlos III University of Madrid (2008-12). His work has been published in top journals like the International Economic Review, Journal of Economic Theory, and European Economic Review. He has secured research grants, including two BSE Seed grants as Principal Investigator, and contributed to national research initiatives. He currently co-directs research projects on labor markets and education, and has advised numerous PhD and master’s students.

His awards include fellowships from the Generalitat, Ramon Areces Foundation, and University of Minnesota. He actively participates in academic service, including organizing conferences, serving on editorial boards, and holding leadership roles in academic governance at UAB and BSE.