禁漫天堂

Before I came to the European Institute to pursue a MSc in Political Economy of Europe, I had studied Sociology, Politics and Economics in a small rural town on Lake Constance in Southern Germany. I decided to pursue a master’s at the 禁漫天堂, because I wanted to specialize in the study of political economy. I was really interested in getting a better understanding of the European debt crisis, and it seemed like the perfect moment to join the European Institute and its unique programme on the Political Economy of Europe.

And, indeed, the EI did deliver. Courses on topics like monetary policy, interest groups, comparative capitalism, and the welfare state gave me fascinating insights into the various dimensions of the European project. Most importantly, I soon realised that the European Institute is an international powerhouse of comparative political economy. I was especially inspired by a course on comparative capitalism that gave generations of students valuable insights into the variegated workings of European economies, and a thorough theoretical tool set to analyse the underlying institutional conditions.

I had always considered pursuing a PhD, but my studies at the EI very much reinforced this plan. After I graduated from the MSc programme, I spent a year working as research assistant on different projects run at the European Institute and the University of Oxford, which gave me the time I needed to develop a clearer idea of a project for the next four years.

I began my PhD studies at the EI in 2018. I enjoyed not only the freedom and flexibility of academic life, but also the opportunity to deeply immerse myself in the study of political economy, and to do so among some of the brightest minds in the field. What made the EI always stand out to me is this interdisciplinary vibe of brilliant researchers working on so many different facets of Europe, ranging from studies of political behaviour to comparative institutional analysis, to political theory and even philosophy.

After I graduated from the PhD programme, I moved to Germany to take up a postdoc position at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG), where I continue my work on comparative political economy. In my research, I investigate the political economy of asset ownership which includes the politics of credit and housing policy. Currently, I am developing a comprehensive research agenda on intergenerational conflict and the political economy of demographic change.

Although I have since moved back to Germany, I maintain close relations with the EI – my academic “Heimat”. As Visiting Fellow, I continue to collaborate closely with former EI colleagues on different projects. Together with my former supervisor Bob Hancké and my PhD classmate and close friend Toon Van Overbeke, we titled ‘Understanding Political Economy’ (2025, Edward Elgar). Collaborating on this project turned out to be a truly fascinating experience, because it made me realise how profoundly my identity as young researcher and my understanding of the world had been shaped by the six years I had spent at the European Institute.