Jaap de Koning

aap de Koning is scientific director of SEOR and professor of labour market policy at the Erasmus University. He has a master’s degree in econometrics and has received his PhD in economics from the Erasmus University. The topic of his dissertation was labour hoarding.

Jaap de Koning has more than 35 years of experience in applied economic research dealing with the labour market and related areas like social security, education and health. Policy evaluation studies in the fields mentioned form a fairly large part of his work, in which quantitative methods (cost-benefit analysis, econometric methods for impact assessment, impact assessment with the help of randomised experiments, simulation models and forecasting models) play an important role. However, most studies also contain qualitative components (surveys, interviews, workshops) or are even completely qualitative. Jaap also has a lot of knowledge about segments of the labour market like specific target groups (long-term unemployed, disabled persons, age groups) and industries (education, manufacturing, public sector).

Although most of his work is for Dutch clients, Jaap has also carried out many studies for foreign clients like the European Commission and the Worldbank. He has quite some experience in leading complex studies involving more than one client and/or several research bureaus from different countries.

In addition to reports based on applied policy research Jaap has also frequently published scientific papers, articles and books. He has given many presentations about subjects relating to the labour market. He also has a lot of experience in leading workshops. Jaap is regularly asked to take part in advisory committees. He was, for example, a member of a committee advising the minister of social affairs and employment on the labour market position of household workers. He has also been a member of the Foundation for industrial development and communication (SIC).

Having been born in 1954, Jaap finished his study in econometrics in 1975 and obtained his PhD in 1987. He started his career at the Netherlands Economic Institute in 1976. In 1986 he became head of the institute’s department for labour market studies. Between 1994 and 2000 he was also a member of the board of directors. Jaap became a professor of labour market policy at the Erasmus University in 1998 and moved to SEOR in 2000 to become one of the directors. Between 2004 and 2012 he was the managing director. Since 2014 he is scientific director.