Professor Dr. Maurice Gesthuizen

Biography

Maurice Gesthuizen investigates the causes of economic marginalization, such as low education and economic disadvantage, and their consequences on social participation and health. Utilizing quantitative data, his research examines topics within the Netherlands and beyond. For instance, he has shown how negative cognitive and social selection processes persist over decades, particularly for low-educated groups in various countries, leading to pronounced economic and social marginalization when compared to higher educated individuals. His work provides empirical evidence that generous welfare states are correlated with social isolation and poorer health outcomes for economically marginalized groups, compared to more generous welfare systems. Currently, he focuses on the reciprocal causal relationships between poverty and mental health, exploring the importance of personal, economic, and social coping resources in mitigating the impact of poverty on mental well-being.

Research Interests