Dr. Joost De Laat

Biography

Joost de Laat is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University, specializing in applied microeconomics. His research focuses on understanding the drivers of inequalities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and developing policy and behavioral options to address these issues. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of the Social Sciences Group at Wageningen University Research, where he has held the Chair of Global Economic Challenges at the Utrecht School of Economics since 2018. His work combines multidisciplinary teams to confront global challenges through transdisciplinary education and collaborative projects. De Laat has a robust research agenda aimed at improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged children and promoting environmental sustainability. His research methodologies include primary data collection, field experiments, and survey research, with ongoing projects in countries such as Bulgaria, India, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. He has contributed significantly to policy changes, such as influencing the Bulgarian government to make kindergarten accessible for the poorest 40% of children. He earned his PhD in Economics from Brown University, focusing on gender norms and inequalities among migrants in Nairobi, Kenya, and has held previous academic positions at Université du Québec à Montréal and Harvard University. De Laat supports open science initiatives and continues to supervise doctoral students at Utrecht University.

Research Interests

Experience