Meet Max Coveney

I am originally from Australia, but I now live in Rotterdam. As an undergraduate in Australia, I always knew that I wanted to travel and spend some time in Europe, as well as study health economics and conduct research. 

From an Australian perspective, the Netherlands is a fascinating place. They offer a Master's programme in Health Economics with some of the best experts in the field. That is why I came here to study my master's degree—and I never left. 

Research projects 

I believe my best work is probably my research on peer effects. This topic within education economics examines how academic peers can influence an individual's performance. If you are placed in a classroom with highly capable students, how does that impact your own academic success? 

One of my projects focuses on teacher advice in the Netherlands. In the final year of primary school, teachers must provide academic recommendations that determine which secondary school track students will follow. As a foreigner, I found it particularly interesting that students are placed on different educational tracks at such an early stage, as these decisions have significant implications for their future. Part of my research seeks to understand how teachers formulate these recommendations, whether there are biases in the process, and whether equally talented students are treated differently based on specific characteristics. 

Work environment

I believe economics is evolving in an interesting direction, with increasingly large datasets and more complex statistical techniques. I expect this trend to continue. Erasmus School of Economics is an ambitious institution, and I find that the students I teach are highly motivated. 

The same applies to my colleagues. I am fortunate to work alongside very talented and ambitious individuals. People come here to conduct serious, socially relevant research. However, the environment is not pretentious or overly academic in nature—people can also be quite relaxed. I can have a coffee with my colleagues to discuss research, but I can also have a drink with them after work. 

Beyond studying

My favourite place at Erasmus is the Erasmus building. This is where students defend their theses, but my favourite part of the building is the display of Jan Tinbergen’s Nobel Prize medal. I appreciate this building because it is where people experience some of the most significant moments of their academic lives. Some of my most important memories took place there as well, when I defended my PhD. 

What I really enjoy is guiding students through the thesis process. I find this rewarding because it represents the culmination of their university experience. They bring together everything they have learned over the past one to three years. I provide feedback on a wide range of aspects, watch them grow, and give them the opportunity to conduct original academic research. It is inspiring for me as a teacher to witness students fully embrace that challenge. 

If I could give one piece of advice to students, based on my own experiences, it would be to travel. During my Erasmus year abroad, I learned a great deal academically. However, being in a completely new environment with different people also helped me grow personally. That was the most formative, almost life-changing, part of my studies.