My main research line considers the relationship between public health infrastructures and long-term health developments. I am conducting several projects on the topic:
- Global health inequality and the diffusion of sanitation since 1850
- This project is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
- Global Epidemics in Historical Perspective
- This project has been awarded by Emergent Ventures, organized by prof. Tyler Cowen. [link]
- The demographic effects of the Cultivation System in Java (with Pim de Zwart and Auke Rijpma). Currently in revise and resubmit status.
- The economic impact of the 1918 influenza pandemic in Java (with Pim de Zwart). Currently in revise and resubmit status.
- Global health inequality and the diffusion of the germ theory of disease since 1900 (with Pieter Woltjer).
- See an early summary of this research at the Economic History Society website here.
- Sanitary infrastructures, mortality cycles and health inequality in Germany during the 19th century
My second research line explores new ways to measure the evolution of historical well-being. Currently I am working on the following projects:
- Measuring well-being in the past: metrics, drivers and implications for development (with Michalis Moatsos).
- The evolution of welfare in industrialized countries since 1870
