Prof. dr. Joost de Laat is Managing Director of the Social Sciences Group and Professor of Economics at Wageningen University & Research. As an applied microeconomist (PhD, Brown University), his transdisciplinary research focuses on sustainability and equal opportunities, with publications in leading academic journals. He previously held positions at Harvard University, the University of Quebec at Montreal, the World Bank (managing its Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund), and global philanthropy Porticus. From 2018 to 2024, he was Professor of Economics at Utrecht University and director of its Centre for Global Challenges. Joost has extensive international experience, working across Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.
