"A Study of Welfare Policies in Terms of Equality and Efficiency", which is Magne Mogstad's Ph.D. project.

At present, Magne Mogstad is working as an economist at the Research Department at Statistics Norway, where he is involved in a comprehensive cross-country research project for the study of welfare policies in terms of efficiency and equality. His Ph.D. s tudies in economics, which he currently carry out at the University of Oslo, are an integrated part of this research project. When focusing on the design and evaluation of welfare policies, economic behavioral models that isolate policy variables and ch oice constraints (job opportunities) from variables that capture heterogeneity in preferences for leisure (time available for non-market activities) and consumption are required. The development of dynamic behavioral models that provide a direct link betw een individuals'/households' labor market behavior and welfare and tax policies will be a major aim of the research project in general, and his Ph.D. thesis in particular. As a response to the current limitations of these models, an objective of this re search project is to construct a behavioral model in such a way as to incorporate the heterogeneity in individuals' choice constraints. Furthermore, the development of a fully dynamic behavioral model is clearly within the scope of this project. In this r egard, drawing on the experience of Professor Flinn at NYU in terms of the modeling of dynamic labor market models as well as the distinction between out-of-the-labor-force states versus unemployment will be crucial. In terms of actual applications, the f ollowing three topics will be explored by applying a behavioral model. Firstly, the behavioral response of single mother to changes in tax and welfare policies will be evaluated. Secondly, the impacts of introducing universal basic income will be assessed . Thirdlly, the connection between labour supply, disability benefits and heterogeneity in individuals' choice constraints will be studied.