Research Olivier Sterck

Abstract

Socioeconomic transformations associated with urbanization, population mobility, and changing labor markets are often accompanied by competing public narratives and perceptions. Yet the relationship between these perceptions and observable socioeconomic realities remains insufficiently understood, particularly in rapidly changing development contexts. This postdoctoral project explores how individuals and communities perceive socioeconomic change, how information shapes these perceptions, and how such perceptions influence attitudes toward economic and social developments. Using a mixed-methods comparative case study in Uganda, the project will combine qualitative research, spatial and market surveys, and experimental approaches to examine the interaction between perceptions, information, and socioeconomic outcomes. Particular attention will be given to understanding how individuals interpret changes in local economic opportunities, labor markets, and patterns of participation in urban economies. The study will also investigate the extent to which access to locally grounded information contributes to more accurate understandings of ongoing socioeconomic transformations. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, the project will contribute to broader debates on information, perceptions, and development. It aims to advance understanding of how narratives emerge, persist, and evolve in contexts of socioeconomic change, while generating insights relevant to inclusive and evidence-informed development policy.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier
• Fellow: Kadigo Mark Marvin

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies01/10/2026 - 30/09/2027

Funding

• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Global inequality is high. The average income in the poorest ten percent of the population is 54 times lower than that in the richest ten percent. Life expectancy in low-income countries is 18 years lower than in high-income countries. Despite such high levels of inequality, economists' toolkit is limited when it comes to guiding policies that may impact inequality. Our project focuses on three important knowledge gaps. First, there is little empirical evidence on the extent to which people dislike inequality in incomes and in lifespan, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Second, knowledge is limited on how people balance inequality within and between groups when inequality affects groups differently (e.g. gender, race). Finally, little is known on how people make trade-offs between incomes and longevity and how this should be incorporated in normative frameworks. Methodologically, we will combine theory and experimental research with 16,000 survey participants from eight countries: USA and France (high-income countries), Indonesia and Peru (upper middle-income countries), India and Kenya (lower-middle-income countries), and Uganda and Ethiopia (low-income countries). The surveys will allow us to estimate the key parameters that respondents implicitly use when making trade-offs involving inequality in income or lifespan and thereby provide valuable insights on how income and lifespan inequality should be accounted for in policies.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies01/01/2025 - 31/12/2028

Funding

• FWO

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

My research is multidisciplinary in scope, building bridges between development economics, health economics, and refugee studies. With colleagues from the Refugee Economies Programme at the University of Oxford, I am collecting and analysing data on more than 15,000 refugees and members of host populations in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, exploring themes such as refugee economies, self-reliance, mobility, cross-border trade, and mental health. In partnership with the World Food Programme, I am assessing the impact of various cash transfer models on the socioeconomic outcomes of refugee households and refugee businesses in the Kakuma refugee camp and the Kalobeyei settlement in Kenya. I am also working with the World Bank on various impact evaluations of cash-based assistance programmes in Africa and elsewhere. With the charity Talent Beyond Boundaries, I am also studying the impact of skilled-worker visas for refugees to move and work in the UK and EU.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier
• Fellow: Sterck Olivier

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies01/01/2023 - 31/12/2027

Funding

• BOF
• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The research will assess the impact of shocks (including climate change) on coping strategies and livelihood of affected populations in Africa. Two coping strategies will be examined in details: debt and migration.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier
• Fellow: Rostom Nada

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies01/01/2023 - 31/12/2026

Funding

• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Refugees often possess skills that are in demand internationally but remain excluded from both local labour markets and skilled migration systems because of documentation requirements, limited visibility, financial constraints, and other administrative barriers. Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) seeks to address this mismatch by connecting refugees with employers abroad and supporting the recruitment, migration, and settlement process. This mixed-methods study evaluates the impacts and scalability of TBB's refugee labour mobility pathway. Combining longitudinal surveys with qualitative interviews across several countries, we examine outcomes for refugee workers and their families, as well as the institutional and practical conditions required for these pathways to succeed. Preliminary findings suggest that relocation through TBB improves employment, earnings, perceived safety, and social integration, although participants may face substantial short-term adjustment costs. The qualitative evidence also reveals strong demand for labour mobility alongside persistent barriers, including documentation requirements, financial constraints, employer uncertainty, and changing migration policies. The findings suggest that labour mobility can complement traditional resettlement and other durable solutions when supported by enabling policies, employer engagement, targeted skills development, and effective settlement support. This research is conducted by Marina Brizar (TBB), Jean-François Maystadt (UCLouvain, University of Lancaster), Nour Moussa (contracted by the University of Antwerp), Nada Rostom (University of Antwerp), Jade Siu (University of Reading), Olivier Sterck (University of Antwerp and University of Oxford), and Sarah Walder (TBB)

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Sterck Olivier

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies15/09/2023 - 30/06/2025

Funding

• INTERNAT.

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project