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By Dejan Kovač & Andrei Munteanu

An aerial view shows a large group gathered around a conference table. They are smiling and looking towards the camera.
CID’s annual Chai, Chocolate, and Conversations event kicked off the 2025 Spring Semester. Fellows Dejan Kovač and Andrei Munteanu (seated next to each other at the far end of the table) joined as we welcomed six new CID Fellows, our CID Program Assistant from Northeastern University, and the new Program Assistant from the Growth Lab at Harvard.

and were postdoctoral fellows at the (CID) as part of CID's Visiting Researcher Program. With sponsorship from UniCredit Foundation, this program brings postdoctoral and PhD student researchers from the UniCredit Bank’s extensive European network to CID. Program participants have the opportunity to join CID’s vibrant research community and learn from leading Harvard faculty and researchers. Here, they reflect on their time at CID and the impact it has had on their research.

1) Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, and why did you decide to join Harvard CID?  

A man is standing indoors, smiling and pointing to a presentation slide on a screen. The slide is titled "College application choices in a repeated DA setting: empirical evidence from Croatia" and lists authors from the Center for International Development, Harvard University, with the date 17.03.2025. There is a Harvard Center for International Development banner and a table with equipment in the foreground.
Dejan doing an early stage mock presentation for his work “College Application Choices in a Repeated DA Setting: Empirical Evidence from Croatia”

DZč:&Բ;I’m originally from Croatia, where I began my academic journey during a post-war transition period. Experiencing war first hand has inspired a lot of my research topics: war effects on education outcomes and my published policy papers at the World Bank about forced displacement.  After completing my PhD in economics, I worked and taught in several countries before arriving at Harvard’s Center for International Development as part of my ongoing research into global education policy and inequality.

Munteanu: I am an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Québec in Montréal and spent the 2024-2025 academic school year as a Postdoctoral Fellow at CID. I am originally from Romania, but have lived in Canada for the past 20 years. I learned about this fellowship from my coauthor, with whom I collaborate on a UniCredit-funded project—the same institution that supports this fellowship and decided it was a great fit.

2) What does your research focus on?

DZč: My research lies at the intersection of education economics, behavioral science, and development. I examine how systems—such as college admissions or neighborhood dynamics—shape long-term human capital outcomes, particularly for underprivileged youth.

Munteanu: My research mainly focuses on the economics of education. Specifically, I am most interested in the effects of educational policies on socioeconomic mobility. I also have a more recent interest in economic history, as it relates to long-term patterns of mobility observed today.

A man is giving a presentation in a conference room, pointing to a large screen displaying a slide with a table of data titled "Effects on high school enrollment." The room features a Harvard Center for International Development banner and some tables and chairs. The man is dressed in a light shirt and dark pants.
Andrei presenting his research in one of our monthly CID Research Xchanges where researchers share their work and receive feedback from colleagues. It welcomes both early and late-stage research, fostering dialogue and collaboration

3) Here at CID, we are united around our mission of building a thriving world for all. How will your research propel this mission forward?

DZč: My work aims to uncover the hidden social mechanisms that widen inequality in access to quality education. For example, in one of my projects with my PhD student Annika Backes, we study how neighbors influence students’ decisions about college and major selection, using comprehensive data from Croatia. Another project analyzes how repeated exposure to school admissions processes can reinforce or reduce inequality depending on institutional design. These insights can help policymakers worldwide reform educational systems to become more inclusive and more effective, especially in emerging economies. By identifying scalable interventions, this research contributes directly to CID’s mission of creating opportunity and promoting inclusive growth globally.

A diverse group of people are seated around a conference table having a discussion. Some are talking and others are listening attentively. On the table are papers, cups, and bowls. Behind them is a large window showing bare trees outside, suggesting winter. There is a wall with a motivational quote partially visible on the left that says, “potential but theirs. We can build people thrive.” The atmosphere appears to be that of a casual meeting or group discussion.
Andrei and Dejan listening to some words from Belinda Clerisme (Executive Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute).

Munteanu: For me, building a thriving world for all implies that equal access to opportunity, which enhances social mobility. This is desirable both from an efficiency standpoint (it is desirable for society to promote talented individuals regardless of their socioeconomic status), but also, as we are increasingly seeing, in order to promote political stability and maintain trust in institutions. My research helps policymakers understand how education policy can impact socioeconomic mobility.

 

4) What has most surprised you about living in Cambridge/Boston?

Two men are standing outdoors on a sunny day, smiling at the camera and giving a thumbs-up. They are wearing athletic shirts, and there is greenery, including trees and bushes, in the background.
Dejan and Andrei out for a short run along the Charles.

DZč: How intellectually stimulating the city is. Every conversation—whether at a coffee shop or a seminar—feels like a micro think tank session.

Munteanu: Unlike most people, I was surprised by how mild the winters are; especially compared to Montréal. Additionally, while I knew a bit about Boston’s history, I hadn’t fully appreciated how two major waves of immigration (the earlier English wave and the later Irish, Italian, and other European wave) left distinct marks on different parts of the Boston metropolitan area that remain visible today.

5) Has this experience helped inform your research? If so, how?

DZč: Absolutely. Being at CID gave me access to an incredible network of scholars whose feedback and collaboration significantly improved the quality and scope of my work. It also broadened my perspective on the global applicability of my research, especially through interdisciplinary exchanges with fellows working on health, climate, and governance.

Fellows at CID become part of a tight-knit community of researchers dedicated to building a thriving world for all.
Fellowships at CID
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