Mariapia Mendola is a development economist whose research focuses on the economics of migration and welfare-improving investment decisions. Her recent work examines the self-selection of migrants worldwide, the political and socio-cultural implications of migration, and the economics of diversity and social cohesion. She is currently Professor of Economics at the University of Milan-Bicocca and Research Fellow at IZA and Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano (LdA). She has been a visiting scholar at the European University Institute (Migration Policy Center), 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 the World Bank, UNDP, FAO, IGC, 3ie, and others.