Michaela Paffenholz

Michaela Paffenholz is an Assistant Professor of Economics (non-tenure track) at the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) and an Economist at the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys.

She received her PhD from the University of Mannheim in 2022.

Dr. Paffenholz's research focuses on health economics and inequality, with particular emphasis on mental health, human capital development, and socioeconomic status. Her work often examines how social and economic factors impact individual well-being and decision-making, bridging economics with psychological and sociological perspectives.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary approach, investigating the intersection of economics with mental health outcomes during the pandemic, adolescent development, financial decision-making, and gender disparities. Her work frequently utilizes large-scale datasets and advanced econometric techniques to establish causal relationships.

As an active researcher at the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys, she contributes to economic policy analysis in Germany, with particular relevance to labor markets, health outcomes, and social inequality.