Dr. Assaf Kott
Department of Economics - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My life before BGU:
I grew up in Givatayim and studied at Borochov Elementary School and Kalay High School. My bachelor’s degree was actually in physics, at the Hebrew University, after which I switched to economics for my master’s, also at the Hebrew University. For my doctorate, I went to Brown University in the US.
Why BGU?
Because it’s a leading and dynamic academic institution with an excellent department of economics.
My research:
I investigate how children and families are affected by economic conditions and government policies. I primarily use administrative data and econometric methods to discover causal relationships. For example, in one study I am doing with partners, we are examining the long-term effects of the cuts to child benefits in 2003. We look at how people who were children at that time were affected by the cuts into adulthood. The
main difficulty is isolating the effect of those cuts, since a lot of other things happened that year.
An insight from my research:
Public investment in preschool education, and education in general, is extremely important and can reduce disparities. However, it’s also important to remember that the decisions parents make at that age are important, and that the government has direct and indirect means of influencing them.
Something that doesn't appear on my CV:
I watch the Office on a loop while I wash dishes.
A Source of inspiration:
Michael Scott
If I wasn’t a researcher, I would...
Probably be doing something in the world of policy.
In Brief:
- Fauda or Big Brother? Totally Fauda
- Yoga or CrossFit? Yoga. Not that I do it much, but it reminds me of my trip to India.
- Hapoel or Maccabi? Next question
- Ravid Plotnik or Noa Kirel? I’ve been out of the country for six years, so I have no idea who Ravid Plotnik is.
- Steak or tofu? Steak (sorry, cows)
- Trekking or the spa? Spa
- Car or train? Train. This is one of the advantages of the University. I can ditch my reliance on my car.
- Classical Europe or India? Ten years ago it was India, now classical Europe.
- Ocean or pool? The ocean, though I also like going to the pool
- Night or morning? Before having children, I liked the morning. Now it is primarily spent watching Fireman Sam.
- Winter or summer? The winters in the US were long and hard, and I just waited for the summer to come. Now I have a feeling that I will feel the same way about the winter.
- Film or play? A good television series, something bingeworthy.
