Frédéric Docquier - Biography#

I am an economist by training. I started my academic career at the University of Lille in 1997 before joining UCLouvain in 2005. At UCLouvain, I found a vibrant and stimulating research environment and was part of the Research Council of the University. While I am increasingly involved in empirical research, I belong to an "endangered species" of economists who like confronting theory with the data. Many of my articles aim to illuminate different theoretical mechanisms and quantify their relative magnitudes, occasionally challenging conventional wisdom.

My research covers various aspects of existing migration literature, including the measurement and root drivers of migration trends, the implications for host and sending countries, and the impact on global inequality and extreme poverty. In the process, I have collaborated with over a hundred co-authors from around the world, worked with international institutions, and engaged in thought-provoking discussions with demographers, legal experts, sociologists, political scientists, geographers, and computer scientists. My story is one of enriching interdisciplinary interactions, with a firm commitment to conducting research for the benefit of society. In 2019, I joined LISER as a Research Program Leader, recognizing the institution's enormous potential for conducting cutting-edge research with high societal impact.

I have a history of interacting with institutions that conduct policy-oriented research. I was part of the UN high-level panel of eminent persons reflecting on the role of international migration in defining the post-2015 sustainable goals, and of the advisory scientific committee of the 2023 World Development Report. Additionally, I contributed to several World Bank reports and the Global Education Monitoring of UNESCO, providing research-based evidence on issues related to brain drain, global inequality, and extreme poverty. I have also provided evidence-based research on European immigration, including refugee crises, and served as an advisor for the National Bank of Belgium while also engaging in media discussions. Since my start at LISER, I have engaged in collaborations with various organizations, including the Ministry responsible for immigrant integration, the Ministry for Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, the Covid-19 task force, and the Chamber of Deputies, on issues related to racism and ethno-racial discrimination.

I have supervised more than 30 PhD and postdoc students. Interacting with young researchers has always been a privilege, and I have co-authored academic papers with almost all of my students, creating lasting relationships of trust and friendship. The story continues as I am now coordinating the ACROSS Doctoral Training Unit on cross-border mobility issues.