At the Competence-Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation (CC-ME) we advise and support EU policy making through ex-post causal evaluation and data-driven microeconomic analysis. The CC-ME hosts a Microeconometric Seminar Series to promote discussions with external researchers from academia and other institutions. Our Seminar Series is intended to disseminate advanced research methodologies and topics in the field of microeconomic evaluation. To further disseminate the benefits of our Series across the JRC, we post a summary of the presented papers together with the presenters' views and opinions on their research and the future of the field of Applied Economics. |
Last week we had the pleasure of having Professor Giuseppe Migali from the Università degli Studi "Magna Graecia" di Catanzaro present his work: Spatial Variations in the Impact of Covid-19 on the Educational Gender Gap in English Secondary Schools.
In his work, Professor Migali investigates the effects of Covid-19 on spatial variations in gender differences in educational attainment in English secondary schools.
He explores spatial variations in various measures of Covid-19 incidence rates at the Travel-to-Work-Areas and estimates the causal effect on the gender gap in high school test scores at age 16 using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) framework.
He finds that there is a statistically significant and positive effect on the educational gender gap in favor of females of between 0.3 and 0.6 points, with girls at the upper end of the attainment distribution achieving much better scores.
To learn more about Professor Giuseppe Migali's work and opinions about the future of the field of Applied Economics we asked him to briefly answer a series of questions. You can find his answers to each of our questions below.
Q: What attracted you to research the topics in your paper? A: We were drawn to the unique opportunity to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an external shock to analyze how systemic disruptions influence educational inequalities, particularly the gender gap. By exploiting spatial variations in pandemic incidence and lockdown severity, we sought to understand how such shocks exacerbate pre-existing disparities. Our goal was to provide a robust framework for analyzing educational gaps and inequalities, both in the immediate aftermath of crises and in their long-term consequences. |
Q: Where is the research area where your paper fits moving? A: Our research area is advancing toward a deeper integration of spatial and socio-economic dimensions into the analysis of educational inequalities, with a strong focus on understanding gender inequality. The field increasingly uses advanced econometric methods and longitudinal data to uncover the layered impacts of systemic shocks. There is a growing emphasis on how these disruptions interact with gender, socio-economic status, and geographic factors, highlighting the need for intersectional and equity-driven approaches. |
Q: What, in your opinion, will the next breakthrough in Applied Economics be? A: We believe the next major breakthrough will involve leveraging big data analytics and causal inference techniques to address gender inequalities more systematically. This includes exploring the long-term effects of systemic shocks like pandemics on education and labor markets, with a particular focus on how these events disproportionately affect women and girls. Understanding the interplay between structural barriers, caregiving responsibilities, and access to resources will be pivotal in designing policies that reduce gender disparities and foster greater equity across all domains. |
The CC-ME team would like to congratulate Professor Giuseppe Migali for his insightful research and thank her for presenting it in our Seminar Series.
For more information on the upcoming presentations and how to participate in our Seminar Series please visit our dedicated website.
| Originally Published | 19 Feb 2025 |
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