Honorary Senior Res Fellow
Overview
I am a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Economics at the University of Queensland and a Research Affiliate at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) since 2016.
I received my Ph.D in Economics from the University of Warwick (UK) in 2016.
My research interests lie in Applied Microeconomics with a particular focus on the areas of Economics of Education and Labor Economics. As a secondary field I am interested in Applied Econometrics.
Research Interests
- Economics of Education
- Labor Economics
- Applied Microeconomics
- Applied Econometrics
Research Impacts
My research interests are in line with applied micro-economics, especially focusing on policy-relevant questions in education and labor economics. I am interested in understanding how do social comparisons and generally social interactions affect students' productivity, educational choices and labor market outcomes. Knowing how one's characteristics compare to those of other individuals is important in many concepts of economic decision making. I am also interested in assessing education policies at any school level with implications to the labor market that are aiming at improving disadvantaged students' outcomes. My research contributes to a deeper understanding of the existing factors and the consideration of new factors in the education production function. My research addresses original, causal and policy-relevant questions such as: Do students improve their performance when they know their rank? Do peer networks (schoolmates and neighbors) affect students' college enrollment? Does class attendance increase educational outcomes? Can teachers' stereotypic behavior explain the gender inequalities in achievements or the gender occupational gaps? By how much does a €1200 bursary at the age of 18 raise wages and affect migration decisions? What is the effect of the current financial crisis on students' preferences over college majors? My research has also received media attention. It is very interesting to communicate with a general audience.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, University of Warwick
Publications
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Journal Article: Compulsory class attendance versus autonomy
Goulas, Sofoklis, Griselda, Silvia and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2023). Compulsory class attendance versus autonomy. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 212, 935-981. doi: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.06.018
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Journal Article: Human capital depreciation and returns to experience
Dinerstein, Michael, Megalokonomou, Rigissa and Yannelis, Constantine (2022). Human capital depreciation and returns to experience. American Economic Review, 112 (11), 3725-3762. doi: 10.1257/aer.20201571
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Book Chapter: Underrepresentation of women in undergraduate economics degrees in Europe
Megalokonomou, Rigissa, Vidal-Fernandez, Marian and Yengin, Duygu (2022). Underrepresentation of women in undergraduate economics degrees in Europe. Critical Perspectives on Economics of Education. (pp. 6-20) edited by Silvia Mendolia, Martin O'Brien, Alfredo R. Paloyo and Oleg Yerokhin. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003100232-2
Grants
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Dr Rigissa Megalokonomou - AQ WRAP
(2020–2021) Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
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Why are there fewer women in STEM? The role of teacher favouritism and gender peer effects
(2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
Supervision
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Three Essays on Student Learning Outcomes and Well-being
Doctor Philosophy
-
Essays in the Economics of Education
Doctor Philosophy
-
Peer Effects in Education: The Role of Ability, Incentives, Information, and Gender
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Book Chapter
-
Underrepresentation of women in undergraduate economics degrees in Europe
Megalokonomou, Rigissa, Vidal-Fernandez, Marian and Yengin, Duygu (2022). Underrepresentation of women in undergraduate economics degrees in Europe. Critical Perspectives on Economics of Education. (pp. 6-20) edited by Silvia Mendolia, Martin O'Brien, Alfredo R. Paloyo and Oleg Yerokhin. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003100232-2
Journal Article
-
Compulsory class attendance versus autonomy
Goulas, Sofoklis, Griselda, Silvia and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2023). Compulsory class attendance versus autonomy. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 212, 935-981. doi: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.06.018
-
Human capital depreciation and returns to experience
Dinerstein, Michael, Megalokonomou, Rigissa and Yannelis, Constantine (2022). Human capital depreciation and returns to experience. American Economic Review, 112 (11), 3725-3762. doi: 10.1257/aer.20201571
-
Relative performance feedback in education: evidence from a randomised controlled trial*
Dobrescu, L. I., Faravelli, M., Megalokonomou, R. and Motta, A. (2021). Relative performance feedback in education: evidence from a randomised controlled trial*. The Economic Journal, 131 (640), 3145-3181. doi: 10.1093/ej/ueab043
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Does class size matter? How, and at what cost?
Kedagni, Desire, Krishna, Kala, Megalokonomou, Rigissa and Zhao, Yingyan (2021). Does class size matter? How, and at what cost?. European Economic Review, 133 103664, 103664. doi: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2021.103664
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Knowing who you actually are: the effect of feedback on short- and longer-term outcomes
Goulas, Sofoklis and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2021). Knowing who you actually are: the effect of feedback on short- and longer-term outcomes. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 183, 589-615. doi: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.01.013
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How do parents respond to regulation of sugary drinks in child care? Evidence from California
Hu, Jiafei, Megalokonomou, Rigissa and Yuan, Haishan (2020). How do parents respond to regulation of sugary drinks in child care? Evidence from California. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 178, 672-687. doi: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.08.014
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School attendance during a pandemic
Goulas, Sofoklis and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2020). School attendance during a pandemic. Economics Letters, 193 109275, 109275. doi: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109275
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Marathon, hurdling, or sprint? The effects of exam scheduling on academic performance
Goulas, Sofoklis and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2020). Marathon, hurdling, or sprint? The effects of exam scheduling on academic performance. B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy, 20 (2) 20190177. doi: 10.1515/bejeap-2019-0177
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Which degrees do students prefer during recessions?
Goulas, Sofoklis and Megalokonomou, Rigissa (2019). Which degrees do students prefer during recessions?. Empirical Economics, 56 (6), 2093-2125. doi: 10.1007/s00181-018-1418-7
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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Dr Rigissa Megalokonomou - AQ WRAP
(2020–2021) Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
-
Why are there fewer women in STEM? The role of teacher favouritism and gender peer effects
(2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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Three Essays on Student Learning Outcomes and Well-being
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Essays in the Economics of Education
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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Peer Effects in Education: The Role of Ability, Incentives, Information, and Gender
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Essays on Empirical Microeconomics
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
