Carolina Laureti, Economist
Carolina is an economist at Mekong Economics' Hanoi office, with a strong grounding in mixed-method research and a deep interest in gender equality, food security, and sustainable development.
She holds a BA in Economics and Business from LUISS Guido Carli University. She subsequently completed a double master's degree in Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations and International Development between Bocconi University and the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po Paris. Her academic training spans finance, economics, international development, and econometrics, giving her a cross-cutting analytical perspective on global challenges.
Before joining MKE, Carolina interned at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the International Organizations in Paris, supporting Italy's strategic priorities at the OECD. She then joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, where she authored an FAO publication on the interaction between global agricultural value chain participation and gender inequality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to her current role, Carolina developed a strong research portfolio in Vietnam, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. Her work has involved designing research instruments, supporting data collection across diverse country contexts, analysing large-scale survey data, and contributing to evidence-based outputs on education, labour transitions, and development policy across South and Southeast Asia.