Daniel V. A. Duque defended his PhD
On Monday, 31 March 2025 Daniel V. A. Duque held a trial lecture on a prescribed topic and defended his thesis for the PhD degree at NHH. Thesis: «Essays on Economics of Education».
In his dissertation Essays on Economics of Education, Daniel Vasconcellos Archer Duque examines how educational policies influence students’ long-term academic and labor market outcomes. Drawing on evidence from Norwegian reforms, he explores the role of school funding, government incentives, and student decision-making in shaping individual life trajectories.
His findings reveal that well-targeted increases in school funding can significantly boost adult earnings—particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. At the same time, policy changes that alter academic incentives, such as reducing rewards for more demanding courses, may lead students to opt for easier paths, ultimately resulting in weaker outcomes in higher education and the labor market.
The research also shows that increased flexibility in how local governments allocate education funding can improve outcomes for some students, but may unintentionally widen existing inequalities.
Taken together, the dissertation highlights the powerful and lasting impact of educational policy on economic opportunity and social mobility.
Members of the evaluation committee:
Assistant Professor Andreas Haller (leader of the committee), Department of Economics, NHH
Professor Helena Svaleryd, Uppsala University
Professor Thomas Cornelissen, Universitety of Essex
Supervisors:
Professor Alexander L.P. Willén (main supervisor), Department of Economics, NHH
Professor Aline Bütikofer, Department of Economics, NHH