I am a PhD candidate in Public Governance, Management and Policy at the Economics Department of the University of Bologna. 

My research sits at the intersection of the economics of education and gender economics, with a focus on cultural and socio-economic inequalities in educational attainment and future aspirations. I apply both quantitative and qualitative methods to produce rigorous, policy-relevant insights.

While primarily an economist, I also work on questions in political science — contributing to a project at the European University Institute. From November 2025 to April 2026, I was a visiting researcher at the Center for Research on Social Inequalities (CRIS) at Sciences Po, Paris. I hold a bachelor's degree in Political and Social Sciences and a master's in Political Economy.

If you want to discuss research or exchange ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out at: cristina.specchi2(at)unibo(dot)it