I am an applied economist studying how forced displacement and economic shocks shape gender inequality, economic opportunities, and social cohesion.

My research focuses on two interconnected questions: how displacement affects women's economic opportunities and well-being, and how it transforms social relationships, trust, and cooperation within communities. My research combines causal inference, spatial data, and field experiments to understand the consequences of displacement and evaluate the effectiveness of development and humanitarian policies in fragile settings.

My research on natural disasters, forced displacement, and early marriage received the 2022 European Economic Association Young Economist Award. 

Before joining the University of Exeter, I worked for seven years with the United Nations and the OECD. I received my PhD in Economics from Trinity College Dublin in 2023.

Email: l.munoz-blanco@exeter.ac.uk

Twitter: @LauraMuozBlanc2