Ilze Plavgo
European University Institute
Welcome!
I am a quantitative researcher working on inequality, poverty, and social policy. My research themes include inequality in education and the labour market, child poverty, and social policy. The geographic focus of my research is on Europe and Africa.
I am currently a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the European University Institute (EUI), working in the project WellSIRe (Wellbeing Returns on Social Investment Recalibration). As part of the WellSIRe project, I study the potential of social investment policies to smoothen life-course transitions and reduce poverty and social inequalities in Europe.
Before joining the EUI, I worked as a researcher at the UNICEF Office of Research (2011-2014) and at the Economic Policy Research Institute (2015-2016) where I carried out research on the measurement and analysis of child poverty and social policy. My work also involved leading regional and national workshops on poverty measurement for UNICEF regional and country offices and local partners.
In addition to academic research, I teach inequality and public policy, quantitative methods and social protection analysis. I also write opinion articles to the media, and engage in research and training with governmental institutions and international organizations, among other activities. You can find my full CV below.
Research Fellow in the WellSIRe project - Wellbeing Returns on Social Investment Recalibration in Europe.
Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences (4-year full-time fully funded doctoral programme). Thesis: Trends and determinants of intergenerational educational inequality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Visiting scholar at the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, Faculty of Education. Research focus: social stratification in education in Ethiopia using Young Lives and RISE longitudinal data.
Social Policy Consultant. Research projects: social protection and child poverty analyses in Morocco, Algeria, and Kenya.
Social and Economic Policy Consultant. Research projects: measurement and analysis of multidimensional child poverty; technical support to UNICEF country and regional offices; social protection evaluation.
MSc in Public Policy and Human Development. Specialization: Social Policy Design. Thesis: Evaluation of the ‘Placement for Training’ Unemployment Reduction Programme in Mauritius.
MA joint honours in European Studies and International Relations (First class honours). Thesis: What are the obstacles for effective cooperation between the EU and Russia?
Erasmus exchange at the Faculty of Law. University diploma received: Administration et Politique Internationales.