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Dr Alice Mesnard

Reader in Economics

School of Arts and Social Sciences Department of Economics

Contact details

Address

Dr Alice Mesnard D321, Rhind Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Alice Mesnard is a Reader in Economics at City University of London and the Chair of the Academic Board of the University of Paris Dauphine -PSL, London. Her main research interests are in the fields of Development Economics, Migration, Policy Evaluations and Applied Microeconomics.

Prior to joining City, she was a Senior Economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies where she worked at the Center for the Evaluation of Development Policies (EdePo). Her research has been mainly devoted to understanding the role of public policies in improving human development. Public policies she has been studying are mainly related to migration, education (Conditional Cash Transfer programme "Familias en Acción" in Colombia), health (maternal health and nutrition programmes in Malawi, Health Insurance in Nigeria, Quarantine measures after the outbreak of infectious diseases such as Ebola) and labour market (New Deal programmes in the UK).

She has been strongly involved in the policy debate about how to eliminate Human Smuggling and her research has led to dialogs with policy makers on how to weaken smuggling markets.
You can watch here a video about some of her research impacts.
You can watch her on TV5 Monde speaking (in French) about pricing the smugglers out of the market : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlvFCWWvMRU

She is committed to building more effective policies in order to weaken smuggling markets through the development of legal markets. The first application of this approach has been migration: her research proposes novel systems of visas to fight against human smuggling and meet the labour market needs of host countries. She has been collaborating in a large interdisciplinary H2020 project to study the drivers of irregular migration and the impacts of migration policies on migration flows to Europe.

This line of research also led her to design a policy mix to regulate the cannabis market through the implementation of a legal market combined with the enforcement of sanctions against illegal activities. The initial findings of this research are in the 2019 report of the Economic Advisory Committee of the French government (CAE) on how to legalise cannabis in France and have been discussed by the National Assembly.

She received her PhD from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (Paris) in 1999 in the "European Doctoral Program" in Quantitative Economics. Subsequently she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Toulouse and has since been a visiting Professor in several Universities including the Toulouse School of Economics, the University of Paris Dauphine and the Paris School of Economics.

Qualifications

  1. Qualified Professor, Conseil National des Universites (France), Feb 2017
  2. Habilitation a Diriger des Recherches, Toulouse 1 Capitole University, France, Jun 2010
  3. PhD Economics, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, France, 1999
  4. Diploma «Ingénieur, Statisticien, Economiste», National School of Statistics and Economics (ENSAE ParisTech), France, 1993

Employment

  1. Visiting Professor, Paris School of Economics, Jan 2014 – Jan 2016
  2. Visiting Professor, Paris Dauphine University, Paris, 2014
  3. Reader in Economics, City, University of London, 2010 – present
  4. Visiting Professor, University of Toulouse, 2009
  5. Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Jan 2004 – Jan 2010
  6. Visiting Researcher, University College London / IFS, Jan 2003 – Jan 2004
  7. Assistant Professor, University of Toulouse, Jan 1999 – Jan 2003

Memberships of professional organisations

  1. Member, European Development Research Network (EUDN)
  2. External Fellow, CREAM, Center for Research and Analysis of Migration, London
  3. Research Associate, EdePo, Institute for Fiscal Studies, London
  4. Research affiliate, CEPR, Center for Economic Policy Research, London

Languages

English (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review), French (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review), German (can read) and Spanish; Castilian (can read).

Teaching

Teaching Interests

Development Economics, Population Economics, Migration, Applied Econometrics, Social Policies, Public Economics.

Teaching Experience

2010-to present: Lectures at City University in Development Economics to PG and UG Students. Lectures in Applied Econometrics to third year UG students. Lectures in Applied Microeconomics to first year UG students. Lectures in Research Methods to PG students.

2014 onwards : Lectures in «Social Policies in developing countries» to PG students in Master PPD at the Paris School of Economics.

2005, 2006: Lectures in Public Economics to UG Students in Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

1999-2003: Core Module in Development Economics to PG students in Toulouse University

1999-2003: Core Module in Development Economics to students training for “Ingenieur” special diploma in Toulouse University.

1999-2003 : Core Module on Economics to first year undergraduate students in Law. Organised experimental games to simulate market mechanisms.

1999-2001 : Trained teachers in France to prepare for the French national “Agregation” competition which gives them the title of Professor. Lectures in population economics.

1997-1999 : Lectures in microeconomics to undergraduate students at the University of Paris 2.

Research

Main research grants awarded

- 2010-2013: AFD-HEWLETT "Health Risks and Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa" . Principal Investigator.
- 2008-2012 : ESRC-HEWLETT "Effects of Reproductive Health on Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa" Co-Investigator.
- 2007: ESRC Reference RES-000-22-1742 "School supply and the effectiveness of Conditional Cash Transfers" Principal investigator.
- 2007-2009 : DFID-ESRC "Human Capital Accumulation and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries". Co-Investigator.
- 2005-2006 : Department for Work and Pensions (UK) Reference Number 11c/04/dwp "Ethnic Parity in Jobcentre Plus Programmes and mainstream services". Co-Investigator.

Publications

Featured publications

  1. De Weerdt, J., Genicot, G. and Mesnard, A. (2019). Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks. Journal of Human Resources, 54(1), pp. 225–254. doi:10.3368/jhr.54.1.0616.8023r1.
  2. Mesnard, A.M. and Auriol, E. (2016). To Control Migration Flows and Defeat Human Smuggling, Sell Visas. Washington DC: Center for Global Development.

Publications by category

Chapters (2)

  1. Mesnard, A.M. (2016). Le renforcement des frontières permet-il de mieux contrôler l’immigration? In Colin, A. and Thiollet, H. (Eds.), Migrants, Migrations: 50 questions pour vous faire votre opinion Idées claires.
  2. Mesnard, A.M. (2003). Dynamiques de développement
    Guerre Civile et Contrat Social
    Dynamiques de développement.     In Bekolo-Ebe, B., Mama, T. and Fouda, S.M. (Eds.), Dynamiques de développement

Conference papers and proceedings (29)

  1. Mesnard, A.M. (2012). Pop Pov conference on Reproductive Health and Economic Development. Pop Pov conference on Reproductive Health and Economic Development January, Accra, Ghana.
  2. Mesnard, A.M. (2011). AMID/BREAD/ CEPR conference on Development Economics. AMID/BREAD/ CEPR conference on Development Economics September, Paris.
  3. Mesnard, A.M. (2011). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE) July, Greece.
  4. Mesnard, A.M. (2011). AFD-Harvard Kennedy School : 4th Migration and Development Conference. AFD-Harvard Kennedy School : 4th Migration and Development Conference June, Cambridge, MA.
  5. Mesnard, A.M. (2011). NORFACE Conference on “Migration :Economic Change, Social conference”. NORFACE Conference on “Migration :Economic Change, Social conference” April, UCL.
  6. Mesnard, A.M. (2011). CSAE conference. CSAE conference March, Oxford.
  7. Mesnard, A.M. (2010). EUDN /AFD conference on Development Economics. EUDN /AFD conference on Development Economics November, Paris.
  8. Mesnard, A.M. (2010). TEMPO conference on migration. TEMPO conference on migration October, Dublin.
  9. Mesnard, A.M. (2010). NORFACE conference on Migration. NORFACE conference on Migration October, UCL London.
  10. Mesnard, A.M. (2010). AFD - 3rd Migration and Development Conference. AFD - 3rd Migration and Development Conference September, Paris.
  11. Mesnard, A.M. (2010). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE) July, Naxos, Greece.
  12. Mesnard, A.M. (2009). Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics. Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics December, Paris.
  13. Mesnard, A.M. (2009). CEPR Annual Symposium on Development Economics. CEPR Annual Symposium on Development Economics September.
  14. Mesnard, A.M. (2009). Conference on Conditional Cash Transfers, organised by the World Bank and the IFS. Conference on Conditional Cash Transfers, organised by the World Bank and the IFS May, London.
  15. Mesnard, A.M. (2008). CEPR workshop on Conflicts and Development. CEPR workshop on Conflicts and Development December, Paris.
  16. Mesnard, A.M. (2008). Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics. Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics December, Paris.
  17. Mesnard, A.M. (2008). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE) July, Naxos, Greece.
  18. Mesnard, A.M. (2008). CEPR conference on Development Economics. CEPR conference London.
  19. Mesnard, A.M. (2007). Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics. Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics December, Paris.
  20. Mesnard, A.M. (2007). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE). Conference on Research on Economic Theory and Econometrics (CRETE) July, Naxos, Greece.
  21. Mesnard, A.M. (2007). CEPR conference on Development Economics. CEPR conference Stockholm.
  22. Mesnard, A.M. (2006). Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics. Conference Agence Française de Développement /European Union Development Network conferences (AFD-EUDN) on Development Economics December, Paris.
  23. Mesnard, A.M. (2006). CEPR conference on Development Economics. CEPR conference Paris.
  24. Mesnard, A.M. (2005). CEPR Annual Symposium on Public Policy. September.
  25. Mesnard, A.M. (2005). Cornell University and IFPRI conference on Non Linearities in Development. Cornell University and IFPRI conference on Non Linearities in Development May, Washington.
  26. Mesnard, A.M. (2004). World Bank and Inter -american Bank for Development conference. World Bank and Inter -american Bank for Development conference July, Bogota, Colombia.
  27. Mesnard, A.M. (2003). Conference on Markets for Pharmaceuticals and the Health of Developing Nations, Toulouse School of Economics ( IDEI). Conference on Markets for Pharmaceuticals and the Health of Developing Nations, Toulouse School of Economics ( IDEI) December, Toulouse, France.
  28. Mesnard, A.M. (2001). World Bank Conference on European Integration of South-West European countries. World Bank Conference on European Integration of South-West European countries June, Bari (Italy).
  29. Mesnard, A.M. (2000). EURESCO conference on Migration. EURESCO conference on Migration May, Sapri (Italy).

Internet publication

  1. Fitzsimons, E., Malde, B., Mesnard, A.M. and Vera-Hernández, M. (2014). Household Responses to Information on Child Nutrition: Experimental Evidence from Malawi. IFS Working Paper.

Journal articles (20)

  1. Kamara, J., Jofre-Bonet, M. and Mesnard, A. (2018). A Discrete Choice Experiment to Elicit the Willingness to
    Pay for Health Insurance by the Informal Sector Workers in
    Sierra Leone.     International Journal of Health Economics and Policy, 3(1).

    [publisher’s website]

  2. Janssens, W., Goedecke, J., de Bree, G.J., Aderibigbe, S.A., Akande, T.M. and Mesnard, A. (2016). The Financial Burden of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases in Rural Nigeria: Wealth and Gender Heterogeneity in Health Care Utilization and Health Expenditures. PLOS ONE, 11(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166121.
  3. Auriol, E. and Mesnard, A. (2016). Sale of Visas: a Smuggler's Final Song? Economica, 83(332), pp. 646–678. doi:10.1111/ecca.12204.
  4. Fitzsimons, E., Malde, B., Mesnard, A. and Vera-Hernández, M. (2016). Nutrition, information and household behavior: Experimental evidence from Malawi. Journal of Development Economics, 122, pp. 113–126. doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.05.002.
  5. Mesnard, A.M. and Seabright, P. (2016). Migration and The Equilibrium Prevalence of Infectious Diseases. Journal of Demographic Economics, 82(1), pp. 1–26. doi:10.1017/dem.2015.12.
  6. Mesnard, A.M. and Djajic, S. (2015). Guest Workers in the Underground Economy. Labour Economics.
  7. Fitzsimons, E. and Mesnard, A. (2014). Can Conditional Cash Transfers Compensate for a Father's Absence? The World Bank Economic Review, 28(3), pp. 467–491. doi:10.1093/wber/lht019.
  8. Attanasio, O., Battistin, E. and Mesnard, A. (2012). Food and Cash Transfers: Evidence from Colombia. The Economic Journal, 122(559), pp. 92–124. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02473.x.
  9. Mesnard, A.M., Attanasio, O., Fitzsimons, E., Guterrez, M.I. and Meghir, C. (2010). Child Education and Work Choices in the Presence of a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in Rural Colombia. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 58(2), pp. 181–210.
  10. Mesnard, A.M. and Seabright, P. (2009). Escaping infectious diseases through migration ? Quarantine measures under incomplete information about infection risk. Journal of Public Economics, 93, pp. 931–938.
  11. Mesnard, A.M. (2006). The impact of a conditional cash transfer programme on consumption in Colombia. Fiscal Studies.
  12. Mesnard, A.M., Dearden, L. and Shaw, J. (2006). Ethnic differences in birth outcomes in England. Fiscal Studies.
  13. Mesnard, A.M. and Ravallion, M. (2006). The wealth effect on new business sartups in a developing economy. Economica, 73(291).
  14. Mesnard, A.M. (2004). Temporary migration and Self-Employment: Evidence from Tunisia. Brussels Economic Review, 47(1).
  15. Mesnard, A.M. (2004). Temporary migration and capital market imperfections. Oxford Economic Papers, 56, pp. 242–262.
  16. Mesnard, A.M. and Azam, J.P. (2003). Civil war and the social contract. Public Choice, 115(3).
  17. Mesnard, A.M. (2003). Guerre Civile et Contrat Social. Dynamiques de développement.
  18. Mesnard, A.M. (2001). Intergenerational mobility and temporary migration. Louvain Economic Review, 67(1).
  19. Mesnard, A.M. and Gaumont, D. (2001). Inheritance, land and capital mobility linked to labour migration. Journal of Population Economics, 14.
  20. Mesnard, A.M. and Gaumont, D. (2000). Altruism and international labour migration. Journal of Population Economics, 13.

Media

  1. Mesnard, A. (2019). Economics of legalising cannabis: pricing and policing are crucial.

Reports (6)

  1. Mesnard, A., Auriol, E. and Perrault, T. (2019). En finir avec les dealers: à quel prix?” Paris: Focus du CAE no. 33-2019..
  2. Mesnard, A.M., Crawford, C., Dearden, L., Shaw, J., Sianesi, B. and Urwin, P. (2007). Estimating Ethnic Parity in Jobcentre Plus Programmes: A quantitative analysis using the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS)..
  3. Mesnard, A.M., Attanasio, O., Battistin, E., Fitzsimons, E., Meghir, C. and Vera-Hernandez, M. (2006). Evaluación del impacto del programa Familias en Acción - subsidos condicionados de la red de apoyo social: Informe del primer seguimento..
  4. Mesnard, A.M., Attanasio, O., Battistin, E., Fitzsimons, E. and Vera-Hernandez, M. (2005). How effective are conditional cash transfers? Evidence from Colombia..
  5. Mesnard, A.M., Attanasio, O. and Catsro, C. (2005). Displacement, conflict and welfare : an empirical analysis..
  6. Mesnard, A.M. and Attanasio, O. (2005). The impact of a conditional cash transfer programme on consumption in Colombia..

Working papers (4)

  1. Jofre-Bonet, M., Kamara, J. and Mesnard, A. (2021). Corruption and Health Insurance for the Informal Sector in Sierra Leone. London, UK: Department of Economics, City, University of London.
  2. Mesnard, A., Cavatorta, E. and Janssens, W. (2021). Gendered Barriers to Formal Health Care Utilization: modelling health care demand in a low-resource setting. Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper.
  3. Mesnard, A., Auriol, E. and Perrault, T. (2020). Weeding out the dealers: the economics of cannabis legalization. CESifo Working Paper.
  4. Mesnard, A., Auriol, E. and Perrault, T. (2019). Defeating Crime? An economic Analysis of Cannabis Legalisation Policies. CEPR Discussion Paper.

Other (5)

  1. Mesnard, A.M. Migration, violence and welfare: an empirical analysis from rural Colombia.
  2. Mesnard, A.M., Crawford, C., Dearden, L., Shaw, J. and Sianesi, B. Ethnic parity in labour market outcomes for benefit claimants.
  3. Mesnard, A.M. and Fitzsimons, E. «Are boys and girls affected differently when the household head leaves for good? Evidence from school and work choices in Colombia».
  4. Mesnard, A.M., Malde, B., Fitzsimons, E. and Vera-Hernandez, M. Responses to Information on Child Nutrition: Experimental Evidence from Malawi.
  5. Mesnard, A.M., Genicot, G. and De Weerdt, J. Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks.

Professional activities

Media appearances (2)

  1. Discussion and interviews in the Media about the research on How to eliminate Human Smuggling. VICE news 11 – 05-2015
    http://news.vice.com/article/europe-weighs-quota-system-and-crackdown-on-smugglers-in-response-to-migrant-crisis

    French Newspapers:

    Liberation 21 04 2015
    http://www.liberation.fr/monde/2015/04/21/vendre-des-visas-aux-travailleurs_1257107

    Le Monde
    http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2015/04/20/fermer-les-frontieres-n-arrete-pas-un-migrant-pret-a-risquer-sa-vie_4619134_3214.html

    France24 :
    http://www.france24.com/fr/20150421-immigration-clandestine-mediterranee-ue-europe-frontieres-legalisation-ouverture-visas-alice-mesnard/

    La Depeche :
    http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/04/23/2092630-emmanuelle-auriol-assecher-le-marche-des-passeurs.html


    Press in the United Kingdom :

    The Guardian : 21.04.2015
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/21/migrant-tragedies-how-to-stop-the-slaughter

    The Guardian : 23.04.2015
    http://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-23-divided-europe-is-all-at-sea-over-desperate-migrants

    Italian newspapers:
    “Il Foglio” on the 20.04.2015
    http://www.ilfoglio.it/cronache/2015/04/20/immigrazione-ostaggio-di-opposti-estremismi___1-v-127944-rubriche_c819.htm


    first daily “La Repubblica”on the 23.04.2015
    http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2015/04/23/news/appello_di_ong_e_intellettuali_apriamo_le_frontiere_per_rilanciare_l_economia_-112622911/

    Magazine Ferrara Italia
    http://www.ferraraitalia.it/immigrazione-e-vendita-di-visti-dentrata-alice-mesnard-permettono-di-legalizzare-i-flussi-44620.html

    Swiss Newspaper LeMatin 26-04-2015
    Portugal Newspaper Publico
    http://www.publico.pt/mundo/noticia/vender-vistos-para-imigrantes-pode-ser-a-forma-de-travar-o-trafico-na-ue-1693288
    Norvegian Newspaper Morgenbladet : interview pages 22-23 :
    http://issuu.com/morgenbladet/docs/jegharopplevd
    German online publication:
    http://www.eurojournal.info/?aktuell/2015-03-21_Menschenschmuggel

    Finland weekly newspaper Suomen Kuvalehti, www.suomenkuvalehti.fi

    Germany : “Human Smuggling” EuroJournal 21 March 2015
    http://www.eurojournal.info/?aktuell/2015-03-21_Menschenschmuggel

    Information player (450000 visitors)
    https://www.contrepoints.org/2015/04/26/205860-immigration-la-vente-de-visas-pour-eradiquer-le-trafic-de-migrants

    News and articles on line on Sciences :
    http://phys.org/news/2015-04-visas-eradicate-booming-human-smuggling.html

    http://www.clarin.com/mundo/fronteras-cerradas-frenan-papeles_0_1343865658.html
  2. Interviews and Press articles quoting the research on quarantine measures and infectious diseases. « Ebola: Une chercheuse dénonce l'effet pervers des mises en quarantaine » published by Vingt Minutes, 20/10/2014 http://www.20minutes.fr/sante/1463175-20141017-ebola-chercheuse-denonce-effet-pervers-mises-quarantaine

    «Même à l'heure d'Ebola, on n’empêchera jamais les hommes de migrer» published by l’Opinion 18/10/2014.

    « Ebola : effets pervers de la quarantaine » published by Temoignages 16/10/2014.

    « Ebola, attention aux msies en quarantaine ! » published by Sante Cool on line 16/10/2014.

    « Ebola : le danger des mesures trop strictes de quarantaine » published by Entrepatients on line 16/10/2014.

Online articles (3)

  1. Des effets pervers de la Quarantine. (2015). Le 1 (French Magazine)
  2. Sale of Visas: A Smuggler's Final Song? (2011). VoxEU Available http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/8051">http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/8051
  3. La fin du trafic d’Etres Humains. (2012). Le Monde Available at http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2012/10/09/la-fin-du-trafic-d-etres-humains_1771841_3232.html

Radio programmes (3)

  1. News. Italian Radio “EL populare" http://podcast.radiopopolare.it/memos_1_22_04_2015.mp3
  2. Live news. sputniknews live news on http://sputniknews.com/radio_red_line/20150424/1021333881.html
  3. France Inter, “3D” by Stefane Paoli. http://www.franceinter.fr

Television programmes (4)

  1. TV show “Arret sur Images” by Daniel Schneiderman. internet Television http://www.arretsurimages.net/emissions/2015-04-24/Migrants-TF1-nous-montre-une-Europe-menacee-d-invasion-id7671
  2. News on migration crisis. BFM TV Discussion of the situation in Calais during the visit of French Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs.
  3. MAGHREB-ORIENT-EXPRESS. MTV5 Monde extracts (in french) of programme about pricing out human smugglers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlvFCWWvMRU
  4. TV Interview on Ebola and quarantine measures. AlArabiya News http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/medicine-and-health/2014/10/16/دراسة-عزل-المصابين-بإيبولا-يشجعهم-على-عدم-التعاون.html