This research examines how social networks influence life outcomes, showing that cross-income friendships significantly improve earnings, well-being, and social trust for low-income individuals. Using large-scale data, it demonstrates that environment shapes opportunity, highlighting the importance of institutions like universities in fostering connections that can transform lives and promote social mobility.

This research examines gender promotion gaps by analyzing policies, retention, and performance together. While promotion policies are gender-neutral and retention explains part of the gap, differences in measured performance—driven by reduced working hours—account for most disparities. Results show that how performance is defined critically shapes outcomes and policy effectiveness.

Partner choice increasingly reflects shared career aspirations, intensifying income inequality. Using Danish registry data and machine learning, this research shows assortative matching by education and career focus has risen since the 1980s. If pairing patterns had remained unchanged, today’s income inequality would be over 40% lower, highlighting family formation as a key economic force.