Dr. Victoria Serra-Sastre is a Senior Lecturer at City, University of London, with research affiliations at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her expertise centers on health economics and applied microeconometrics, focusing on technology diffusion in healthcare, including the impact of medical technologies on health outcomes, hospital performance, and workforce dynamics. She investigates substitution/complementarity between technologies and explores hospital competition and workforce trends. Research interests include analyzing how technological advancements affect healthcare delivery and labor markets. While affiliated with City University, her collaborative work at LSE emphasizes medical technology uptake and its systemic implications in healthcare systems.
Dr. Shushanik Margaryan is a Research Fellow at the University of Potsdam's Department of Economics, affiliated with the Berlin School of Economics and IZA. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hamburg and specializes in health, education, and labour economics with a focus on applied microeconometrics. Her work addresses societal challenges such as climate policy co-benefits, educational interventions, and healthcare disparities. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Universität Hamburg (2016-2021) M.Sc. in Economics, Universität Hamburg (2014-2016) B.A. in Labour Economics, Armenian State University of Economics (2009-2013) Research Interests: Her research spans climate policy impacts, educational equity, and labour market dynamics. Notable projects include evaluating low-emission zones' health benefits and the effects of randomized educational interventions on disadvantaged children. Key Contributions: Recent work examines spillover effects of war on adolescents and replicates studies on long-term vaccination impacts. She co-leads a DFG-funded project on labour market transformations. Awards: HCHE Young Researcher Award (2021) Joachim Herz Fellowship (2024-2026) Teaching & Service: Teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on labour/education economics. Organizes seminars like the Potsdam Research Seminar in Economics and serves on hiring committees.
Gabor Virag is an Associate Professor of Economic Policy Analysis at the University of Toronto, Mississauga , with a cross-appointment to the Rotman School of Management . He serves as the PhD Coordinator for the Economic Analysis and Policy area. His research focuses on market dynamics, auction theory, and search theory, with a particular interest in decentralized market interactions and information policy. Education : PhD in Economics from Princeton University, MA from Central European University, BA from Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Research Interests : Economic Theory, Industrial Organization, Game Theory, and their applications to dynamic contests, patent markets, and labor economics. Publications : His work appears in top-tier journals such as the American Economic Journal, Games and Economic Behavior, and Review of Economic Studies, emphasizing auctions with resale, innovation prizes, and wage inequality. Collaborations : Co-author of studies with scholars from Bocconi University, Claremont McKenna College, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Alpaslan Akay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Gothenburg, where he has been employed since 2013. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Gothenburg (2008), with prior doctoral training at Istanbul University (2005–2008). His research spans behavioral and experimental economics, happiness economics, migration economics, and applied microeconometrics, with a recent focus on positional concerns and teaching pedagogy. He actively collaborates across disciplines and serves as a referee for top journals. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Gothenburg (2008) Master of Mathematical Statistics, Istanbul University Bachelor of Economics, Istanbul University Research Focus: His work examines positional behavior, immigrant assimilation, and well-being dynamics. Notable areas include the economic impacts of migration, the role of empathy in decision-making, and the interplay of relative income concerns with health and labor market outcomes. He also explores innovative pedagogical strategies in economics education. Professional Contributions: Organized large-scale economics conferences Member of high-profile scientific committees Referee for leading economics journals Key Themes in Publications: Happiness economics and positional concerns Immigrant labor market integration Experimental analysis of social behavior Policy implications of well-being metrics
Prof. Dr. Martin Spindler is a Professor for Statistics at the Department of Statistics with Application in Business Administration, University of Hamburg Business School. His research bridges Econometrics, Statistics, and Machine Learning, focusing on high-dimensional methods, causal inference, and applications in finance, insurance, and health economics. Current position since 2016 Visiting Professor at University Mannheim (2016), Boston College (2015), and MIT (2015, 2013-2014) Senior Researcher at Max Planck Society (2012-2016) Education: PhD in Economics, University of Munich (2012) Master in Mathematics and Economics, University of Munich (2008) and Regensburg (2003) B.A. in Mathematics, University of Regensburg (2005) His methodological work includes L2Boosting for treatment effect estimation, double machine learning frameworks, and nonparametric approaches for asymmetric information. Applications span from fraud detection in claims management to pandemic shielding strategies and financial forecasting. Research Trends: Recent publications emphasize high-dimensional statistical methods, causal machine learning, and interdisciplinary applications. Key tools include double machine learning, attention networks, and transformation models. Collaborations: Active partnerships with institutions like MIT, Boston College, and Max Planck Society, alongside contributions to open-source software (e.g., DoubleML, hdm package).
Professor Kevin J. Fox is a distinguished academic at the UNSW Business School , serving as Director of the Centre for Applied Economic Research (CAER) . He holds leadership roles in global statistical initiatives, including the UK Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence and the International Association for Research in Income & Wealth (President 2020-2022). His career spans advisory positions with the Australian Treasury , Australian Bureau of Statistics , and United Nations Statistical Commission . B.Econ (Hons), University of Canterbury M.A., University of British Columbia Ph.D., Department of Economics, University of British Columbia As a leading expert in economic measurement , Fox focuses on productivity analysis , econometrics , and environmental economics . His research addresses digital economy challenges , CPI construction , and infrastructure productivity . He pioneered scanner data applications in inflation measurement, implemented by the Australian Bureau of Statistics from 2017. Recent publications analyze productivity paradoxes , digital goods valuation , and lockdown economic impacts . His 15 most recent articles demonstrate expertise in high-frequency data , TFP measurement , and price index theory , with sub-fields spanning quasi-experimental design and global economic statistics harmonization . Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Elected Fellow, Society for Economic Measurement Elected Fellow, U.S. Conference on Research in Income and Wealth Collaborative Indigo Prize 2017 win for GDP measurement innovation Awarded Australian Research Council grants totaling over $3 million , including: 2015-2019: $551,400 Discovery Grant for productivity frameworks 2014-2017: $1,075,000 Linkage Grant for property market measurement 2008-2013: $947,322 Linkage Grant for R&D productivity He contributes to public policy through: Advisory roles at Australian Treasury and ABS Leadership in International Working Group on Price Indices UN/IMF/OECD working groups on digital national accounts
Bryan S. Graham is a Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in econometrics, focusing on network formation, social interactions, and panel data analysis. His research explores topics such as peer effects, poverty traps, and small sample properties of econometric methods. Graham holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University (2005) and has held visiting positions at Harvard, CEMFI (Spain), and NYU. He is an elected Fellow of the International Association of Applied Econometrics. Education highlights include a Rhodes Scholarship (1997–2000) at Oxford University, a Fulbright Scholarship (1997–1998) at the Australian National University, and a B.A. in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University (1993–1997). His work has been published in top journals like Econometrica and the Review of Economic Studies . Key awards include NSF grants (multiple), the Review of Economics Studies Tour, and the Daniel Ounjian Prize. Graham’s research has practical applications in policy analysis, particularly in education and social spillover effects. He also actively contributes to academic service, including editorial roles at Review of Economics and Statistics and Journal of Econometrics .
John Rand is a Professor in Development Economics at the Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen, where he has been employed since 2021. He previously served as Professor (mso) at the Faculty of Social Sciences (2015-2020) and Faculty of Science (2011-2014), Associate Professor (2008-2011), and Assistant Research Professor (2005-2008) at the same institution. He is currently Vice-chair of The Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (FFU) and co-director of the Development Economics Research Group (DERG). Professor Rand's research focuses primarily on development economics, with specific expertise in applied econometrics, impact measurement, industrial economics, and interdisciplinary methods. His work spans topics including climate-smart agriculture, economic policy in developing countries, trade and productivity, and governance issues. He leads multiple externally funded research projects including 'Energy transition and climate-smart agriculture in Vietnam', 'Economic Research and Policy Making in Kenya', and 'Sedentarization and climate change resilience in Nigeria'. His extensive publication record shows a strong focus on empirical research in developing countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. His recent work demonstrates consistent attention to practical policy implications, with a growing emphasis on climate change adaptation, resource allocation efficiency, and the intersection of economic development with environmental sustainability. His research often employs rigorous quantitative methods to address real-world development challenges. Professor Rand is actively involved in several research networks including the Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research (COPE) as part of the steering group and the UCPH Migration Research Platform. He serves as Head of Studies for Global Development and teaches Development Economics (BA) and Theories, Facts and Current Issues (MSc Global Development). He has presented his research at numerous international conferences including UNU WIDER conferences, Nordic Conference in Development Economics, and various country-specific development forums. His work has been referenced in policy sources and picked up by news outlets, indicating its relevance to current development debates.
Mette Ejrnæs is a Professor at the Department of Economics , University of Copenhagen, since 2012. She is affiliated with the Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI) and the Economic Policy Research Unit (EPRU) . Her academic work spans applied microeconometrics , labor market economics , and family economics , with a focus on child welfare , fertility , and income processes .
Prof. Dr. Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch is a Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, specializing in Behavioral Economics and Empirical Economic Research. She serves as Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods and leads the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE). Her research spans self-control, socio-emotional skills, economic preferences, affirmative action, and behavioral interventions, often using experimental methods and longitudinal data. Education: PhD in Economics (University of Munich, 2008), MSc in Economics (University of Mannheim, 2004), Studies in Economics, Political Sciences, and Environmental Science (University of Heidelberg, 2001). Positions: Professor (DICE, HHU Düsseldorf, 2016–present), Senior Research Fellow (Max Planck Institute, 2021–present), Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Bonn, 2009–2016), Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Berlin, 2008–2009), Research Assistant (University of Munich, 2004–2008). Her research combines behavioral economics, psychology, and public policy, focusing on self-control stability, socio-economic disparities in child development, and the effectiveness of affirmative action. Recent work examines spatial patterns in preference formation, parenting impacts on skills, and behavioral interventions during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Key contributions include: Identifying sensitive periods for socio-emotional skill development. Analyzing self-control’s predictive power for life outcomes. Evaluating the interplay between surveillance and behavioral compliance. Investigating fairness perceptions of affirmative action policies.
Umut Oguzoglu is a Professor of Economics at the University of Manitoba , with a longstanding affiliation as a Research Fellow at IZA . His research spans labour economics , health economics , economics of education , and applied microeconometric methods . PhD, Economics, University of Guelph MA, Economics, University of Guelph BA, Economics, Marmara University His methodological expertise includes panel data analysis , dynamic modeling , and instrumental variable techniques . Recent projects examine: Intergenerational health behavior transmission Physician relocation impacts on healthcare Sibling sex composition and STEM major choices COVID-19's effect on traffic accidents Gambling-community economic linkages Scientific awards include the 2020 Best Paper Prize from The Economic Record. He has supervised 3 PhD students, 13 MA/MSc students, and served on 16 thesis committees. Major grants include: SSHRC Partnership Grant (2020-2027) for poverty solutions CIHR grant (2020-2023) for lupus employment research Manitoba Gambling Research Program grant (2015)
José António Ferreira Machado is a Full Professor at the Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. He currently serves as Vice-Rector of the university and previously held director roles at the Nova School of Business and Economics (2005-2015) and Angola Business School (2010-2015). His academic career includes consultancy at the Bank of Portugal (1992-2015) and teaching Econometrics, Statistics, and Macroeconomics. Research Interests: Machado's work focuses on Econometrics, Quantile Regression, Wage Distributions, Firm Size Analysis, and Macroeconomic Modeling. His most cited paper (2005) introduced counterfactual decomposition methods for wage distribution analysis. Recent publications examine quantile regression extensions, trade margins, and moment-based statistical inference. His research spans both theoretical and applied economics, with collaborations including J. M.C. Santos Silva and Roger Koenker.
Dubravko Radic serves as Professor of Service Management at the University of Leipzig's Faculty of Business and Economics since 2009, while simultaneously holding the position of Deputy Head of the Price and Service Management group at the Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economics IMW since 2013. His academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Wuppertal where he completed his habilitation, and the University of Frankfurt am Main where he earned his doctorate in statistics and econometrics. Doctorate (Dr. rer. pol. summa cum laude): Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M. (2004) Habilitation: Bergische Universität Wuppertal (2009) Diplom-Volkswirt: Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M. (1999) Research Stay: University of California Davis (2008) Professor Radic's research centers on the intersection of empirical methods and business management, with particular emphasis on service pricing modeling, applied microeconometrics, and social interactions in service contexts. His work bridges theoretical econometric approaches with practical business applications, especially in the healthcare sector where he has led multiple Fraunhofer IMW projects including ASARob, NurMut, and ATMoSPHÄRE. His research methodology combines quantitative modeling with real-world case studies to address strategic and operational decisions in service organizations. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on discrete choice modeling, game theory applications in marketing, and service innovation frameworks. The 2025 paper "Discrete Games in Marketing Research" presented at the Global Marketing Conference in Hong Kong exemplifies his approach of applying advanced econometric techniques to practical marketing problems, particularly in digital service contexts. His work shows an evolving trajectory from foundational service management concepts toward increasingly sophisticated modeling of strategic interactions in service markets. Professor Radic has extensive experience advising major corporations including Metro AG, Lilly Deutschland, IMS Health, Berlin Chemie, and Augustinum gGmbH. His practical projects at Fraunhofer IMW focus on translating academic research into actionable business solutions, particularly in healthcare digitization and service innovation. He has led the TRAIN@MINE project developing training tools for Vietnam's mining sector and contributed to studies on Big Data applications in health insurance. At the University of Leipzig, he leads research activities through the Institute for Service and Relationship Management, supervising multiple research projects that connect academic inquiry with industry applications. His team collaborates with international partners including the University of California Davis, University of Maryland, Northwestern University, and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, creating a robust research ecosystem focused on service management innovation.
Igor Francetic is a Research Fellow at the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care at the University of Bristol. He holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Basel (2019) and has expertise in health economics, applied microeconomics, and econometric analysis. His research focuses on healthcare organization, health behaviors, and policy evaluation, with a particular emphasis on emergency care prioritization, primary care workforce dynamics, and health inequalities. He has contributed to policy-oriented projects in Switzerland and Tanzania, including studies on hospital networks, patient safety, and health systems governance. **Education**: PhD in Public Health (University of Basel, 2019) MSc in Economics (University of Lausanne, 2016) BA in Economics (University of Lugano, 2012) BSc in Business Administration (SUPSI, 2011) **Research Interests**: His work explores cancer screening, spillover effects in healthcare, emergency care disparities, and primary care networks. He employs microeconometric and network analysis tools, leveraging platforms like R and Stata. Recent studies include evaluating skill-mix changes in primary care (England), socioeconomic disparities in emergency care access, and the impact of social accountability monitoring in Tanzania. **Awards & Fellowships**: SSPH+ Fellow, Swiss School of Public Health (2024–) SNSF Ambizione Fellow, SUPSI (2024–) **Teaching**: Co-lecturer for the Health Economics unit (ECON 32202) at the University of Bristol. **Professional Memberships**: Health Economists' Study Group UK (HESG) Royal Economic Society (RES) Swiss Society of Health Economics (sggö) Croatian Health Economics Association (CHEA) – Co-founder and board member
Jong H. Kim is an Associate Teaching Professor at Emory University, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics. His research focuses on Quantitative Analysis, Applied Microeconometrics, and Industrial Organization. He holds a PhD in Economics from Emory University (2005) and an MS in Applied Mathematics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1994). Contact: jhkim@emory.edu, Office Location: Rich 311A.
