Economics of Education (Educa Flagship)

The Economics of Education group studies how education systems shape human capital formation, labor market outcomes, and broader social and economic dynamics. Our research spans a wide range of topics, including the impact of educational inputs on skill formation, the returns to education, the ways institutions shape educational choices, and the role of education in social mobility. We also examine how education influences outcomes beyond the labor market, such as criminal behavior, gender norms, and family formation.

Our work combines rigorous empirical identification strategies with a focus on policy-relevant questions. Methodologically, we rely on a broad set of tools, including randomized experiments, quasi-experimental research designs, and extensive use of large-scale administrative and survey data. These approaches allow us to provide credible evidence on the effects of education policies and institutional arrangements across diverse contexts. In addition to causal inference, we contribute to academic and policy debates through high-quality descriptive analysis.

We also organize an informal seminar approximately once a month, where participants present early-stage and ongoing research projects in the Economics of Education. For more information, please contact Hanna Virtanen (hanna.virtanen@etla.fi) or Mikko Silliman (mikko.silliman@aalto.fi).

The Helsinki GSE Education group represents economics within the interdisciplinary Education for the Future (EDUCA) Flagship, funded by the Research Council of Finland.

We organize a biweekly Economics of Education seminar on Tuesdays, typically featuring speakers from international institutions. For more information, please contact Daniel Carvajal (daniel.carvajal@aalto.fi) or Cécile Bonneau (cecile.bonneau@aalto.fi).

The one-day workshop brings together researchers working broadly on the Economics of Education and provides a platform to discuss research and to network. The first workshop will take place on September 19th, 2025. For more information, please contact Daniel Carvajal (daniel.carvajal@aalto.fi).

We also organize an informal seminar approximately once a month, where participants present early-stage and ongoing research projects in the Economics of Education. For more information, please contact Hanna Virtanen (hanna.virtanen@etla.fi) or Mikko Silliman (mikko.silliman@aalto.fi).