Researcher at the Institute of Public Finance, Martina Pezer, undertook a research stay at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Living Conditions Department, from 18 November 2024 to 17 November 2025, where she received advanced training in microsimulation and microeconometric models for the analysis of household consumption. 

During her stay, she worked with her host mentor, Dr. Denisa M. Sologon (Senior Research Scientist), as well as with her research group and collaborators, in particular Dr. Eugenio Peluso, Dr. Iryna Kyzyma, Dr. Ana Montes-Viñas, Ghassan Al-Masbhi, and Prof. Cathal O’Donoghue.

The objective of the training was to expand LISER’s microsimulation demand system model with new capabilities, primarily including the estimation of equivalence scales for European households and the analysis of inflation effects. The collaboration resulted in two scientific papers that are currently under review in international journals. Continued joint collaboration on other projects has also been agreed.

During the training period, Pezer participated in a range of scientific and professional activities organised by LISER (conferences, training courses, internal seminars, and research meetings). Highlights included the Policy Lab Launch, featuring a lecture by Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, and the Society in Motion event, aimed at presenting LISER’s research to the wider public in an interactive format.

“During my postdoctoral stay at LISER, I particularly appreciated the exceptional hospitality and strong commitment of the host organisation, as well as the integration into the European research area through work within my mentor’s research group. LISER offers excellent working conditions and infrastructure, along with a stimulating environment that supports daily exchanges of ideas and collaboration. LISER’s strongly international orientation, with colleagues from all over the world, further enriched this experience and enabled significant professional development and the acquisition of new research skills,” Pezer concluded.

The research stay was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation under the mobility programme – outgoing mobility of young researchers, MOBODL-2023-12-7190, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.