As of December 1, 2024, Prof. Matthias Rieger will hold the chair 'Global Health’, embedded in the Health Economics (HE) section. Matthias is a development economist, working and teaching in the interdisciplinary fields of global health and development studies. His research has focused on the economic and behavioural determinants of health and nutrition outcomes. He primarily relies on randomized control trials (RCTs), field experiments and quasi-experimental methods.
Since joining ESHPM in January 2024, Rieger has been chairing the Global Health Theme at ESHPM. The Theme focuses on Global Health Behaviours & Socio-Economic Determinants of Health (led by Matthias Rieger), as well as International Health Care Systems (led by Igna Bonfrer). The Theme wants to offer rigorous evidence, impact policies and equitably work with partners and communities in low and middle-income countries to reduce health inequalities. As chair Matthias aims to consolidate and extend ESHPM’s expertise to boost international recognition and visibility in Global Health teaching and research.
He has been working on setting up a lab around designing and testing scalable interventions to support health and nutrition behaviours among vulnerable groups. The lab applies behavioural economic insights to improve such interventions. Current projects range from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on medication adherence and nutrition behaviours among tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa to field experiments around school meal vouchers for adolescents in Indonesia.
Dean Maarten IJzerman: “I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Matthias. Together with our dedicated ESHPM staff he will provide the leadership to strengthen our global health profile with which we deliver on major societal challenges. Because of his continued part-time engagement with the International Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) we have ensured an opportunity to build on ISSs expertise and network to further create societal impact.”
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