An EconoTimes perspective

Franziska Gassmann

Professor of Social Protection and Development, Maastricht University

Professor of Social Protection and Development, Maastricht University Franziska Gassmann (PhD in Economics) is Professor of Social Protection and Development at Maastricht University. At UNU-MERIT, she is the Head of the UNU-MERIT Graduate School. Franziska Gassmann has a strong track record in the field of poverty, social protection and applied public policy. The focus of her current research is on understanding to what extent and under what conditions formal and informal social protection contribute to inclusive development and how such policies impact intermediate objectives such as the accumulation of human capital, the investment in, protection and accumulation of productive assets, labor market participation and the generation of local multiplier and spillover effects. Her research also addresses questions such as how social protection can be expanded to those groups that are currently not covered by formal systems, for example informal workers, and the determinants of preferences for redistributive policies. Franziska Gassmann has over 25 years of experience in advising international organizations and national governments. She has project experience in more than 15 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. She is regularly teaching in graduate programs (MSc, PhD) in the field of welfare economics, social protection and public policy analysis (certified university teacher BKO), and executive training programs.