I am a Senior Research Fellow at the Experimental and Behavioral Economics (EEG) group at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods. Prior to this position I was a Ph.D. candidate at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, where my advisors were David K. Levine and Thomas F. Crossley.
I am an applied micro-economist specializing in development economics and political economy, with a focus on how conflict shapes human development and institutional resilience. My research investigates the micro-level effects of conflict on education, ideology, and livelihoods, drawing on rich data from fragile and conflict-affected settings. For example, I study how insurgent occupation in North East Nigeria affects schooling outcomes, emphasizing the roles of social identity and peer dynamics. Other projects explore the ideological impacts of religious violence, the effects of income shocks on conflict and education in Colombia, and how international food price fluctuations influence local food security and violence.
Beyond individual outcomes, my work also engages with the political economy of conflict, examining how violence shapes democratic behavior, state legitimacy, and social cohesion. I analyze the political consequences of exposure to violence—such as its effects on electoral participation, protest, and trust in institutions—while highlighting the importance of nonviolent mechanisms like rebel governance and identity-driven alignment. Across these themes, my research aims to inform policy by deepening our understanding of how economic and social systems respond to conflict.
Contact
stoelinga[at]coll.mpg.de