Mariapia Mendola is a development economist whose research interests include welfare-improving investment decisions as well as international and political economics, with a particular focus on migration. Her recent research works cover topics such as diversity, culture, human capital, innovation and networks. She is currently Professor of Economics at the University of Milan-Bicocca, Scientific Director of Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano (LdA) and Research Fellow at IZA. She has been a visiting scholar at the European University Institute, New York University and the Tinbergen Institute. Mendola holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Milan and a B.A. from Bocconi University in Italy. Her research has been funded by 3ie, IGC, the World Bank, UNDP, FAO and others.