Paul Frijters

Professor Paul Frijters is a Professor in Wellbeing Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE), Department of Social Policy. He holds a Masters in Econometrics from the University of Groningen and a PhD from the University of Amsterdam. His expertise spans wellbeing economics, public policy, applied micro-econometrics, and interdisciplinary research. He advises governments on wellbeing policy implementation and has led major projects like the Rumici Project tracking migration in China and Indonesia. He publishes in top economics journals and co-authored 6 books, including works on wellbeing policy and the economic consequences of the pandemic.

Education:

• Masters in Econometrics, University of Groningen (with a 7-month stay in Durban, South Africa)
• PhD in Wellbeing Economics, University of Amsterdam (focused on Russia's transition period)

Research Interests:

• Wellbeing measurement and policy design
• Public policy evaluation (e.g., pandemic management, economic interventions)
• Labour, health, and happiness economics
• Migration economics (China/Indonesia urbanization)
• Behavioral and experimental economics

Scientific Awards:

• 2009: Australia’s Best Young Economist under 40 (Australian Economic Society)
• Top 1% of cited economists globally

Grants and Advising:

• Advisor to UK government on national wellbeing policies
• Principal investigator for Rumici Project (World Bank/Ford Foundation-funded, tracking 20,000 individuals)

Labs/Teams: Active in the LSE Department of Social Policy research group, collaborating on wellbeing frameworks and interdisciplinary projects.