Catherine Guirkinger is a professor of economics at the University of Namur. Her research focuses on development economics and economic history, with a particular emphasis on gender and family structures in the African context. She primarily relies on original data collection and archival sources to study how historical institutions and changes in the economic policy environment shape socio-economic outcomes. Her recent work examines the short- and long-term impacts of colonial policies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically regarding pro-birth and education taxation policies. Additionally, she investigates how shifts in the economic and legal environments affect family relations, marriage negotiations, divorce patterns, intimate partner violence, and decision-making processes.