Eveline S Van LeeuwenEveline van Leeuwen (1978) graduated in Land Use Planning (MSc) at the Wageningen University and obtained a PhD in Economics at VU Amsterdam on the thesis entitled "Towns today: Contemporary Functions of Small and Medium-sized Towns in the Rural Econmy" in 2008. She is now affiliated to Wageningen University as professor and chairholder of the Urban Economics group.
Eveline has a broad interest in economic and social interactions between places at the regional and urban level and how these interactions impact wellbeing/happiness; economic activities and participation. In her research, she focusses on the integration of micro- and macro approaches in the field of regional science. Linking agent-based modelling and microsimulation, with macro models is an important common thread. This novel approach was rewarded several awards.
Currently, Eveline and her group are working on how social and physical neighbourhood characteristics contribute to individual level decisions. They focus on sustainable energy consumption and the uptake of renewable energy, local participation and social networks, and healthy lifestyles. In addition, she works on urban-rural interactions and synergies between different regions and localities.
The outcomes of this research is of interest to both academics and policymakers. Therefore she is often asked to present and discuss her insight at international conferences, as well as with local policymakers. She is also a member of the scientific reflection group for population decline initiated by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Knowledge Platform Demographic Transition.
Eveline has been active in the Regional Science Association for many years. She is a board member of the Dutch speaking group (RSAN), acted as local organiser of the ERSA congress in Groningen and has joint several prize committees. Furthermore, she is part of the editorial board of the Regional Science Policy and practice, Regional Science Regional Studies and the International Journal of Microsimulation. Read More Read Less