2023 - present: Ph.D. Candidate in Economics, Management and Decision Making (XXXIX cycle)
From October 2024 to October 2025, I carried out a research period at the University of Oviedo (Spain), under the supervision of Professor Juan Prieto-Rodriguez. During this time, I deepened my expertise in my specific research field (Cultural Economics) and participated in the Young Researchers seminar series, a valuable initiative fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking among early-career scholars within the Department. In this context, I developed several key components of my doctoral thesis, which focuses on the relationship between cultural participation, well-being, and social capital. In June 2025, I attended the 27th International Conference on Cultural Economics, organized by the Association for Cultural Economics International (ACEI) at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands). The paper I presented on that occasion, entitled “The Role of Cultural Participation on Different Domains of Subjective Well-Being: The Case of the Italian Regions”, was awarded the “Victor Fernandez-Blanco Prize” for the best full paper presented in the Young Researchers Workshop.
During the period 2023–2024, corresponding to my first year of the Ph.D. program, in addition to attending the doctoral courses offered, I contributed to the construction of a panel database of Italian regions, incorporating data from ISTAT, EUROSTAT, and SIAE. This dataset was later shared with colleagues within GRINS - Spoke 8 and employed in several scientific outputs, including the paper “The Resilience of In-Person Cultural Activities in Face of the Covid-19 Shock: Impact and Recovery in Italian Regions” (by R. Cellini, T. Cuccia, and A. de Cristofaro), currently published as a discussion paper on the GRINS website and under submission to a top-tier academic journal.
2021 - 2023: Statistical Survey Officer, Consorzio Interuniversitario AlmaLaurea, Bologna
After a well-deserved post-graduation break, in October 2021 I began working as a Statistical Survey Officer at the AlmaLaurea Interuniversity Consortium in Bologna. This position allowed me to acquire advanced technical and analytical skills, both in survey design and implementation, statistical reporting, and data visualization for institutional and policy-making audiences, as well as proficiency in software such as Excel, SPSS, Access, PowerPoint, and Word.
2018 - 2021: Master’s Degree in Economics and Economic Policy (LM-56), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
My Master’s thesis, entitled “Expectations for the Phillips Curve: between FIRE and Survey Expectations”, was supervised by Prof. Roberto Golinelli and co-supervised by Prof. Laura Bottazzi. I graduated with full marks and honours (110/110 cum laude).
2015 - 2018: Bachelor’s Degree in Economics (L-33), University of Catania
My Bachelor’s thesis, entitled “Measuring Social Well-Being: A Comparison Between Objective and Subjective Indicators”, was supervised by Prof. Tiziana Cuccia, and received a final grade of 107/110.
2010 – 2015: High School Diploma, Liceo Classico Mario Cutelli, Catania
For my final thesis, I presented a study connecting mechanisms of social control with the concept and artistic narrative of the Pink Floyd album The Wall, released on November 30, 1979, coincidentally my birthday. I graduated with a final grade of 100/100.
Conference Presentations and Summer Schools
10–11 October 2025 – 5th International Workshop “Rethinking Culture and Creativity: Culture-led Regeneration and Innovation Processes”, University of Catania
Paper presented: “Determinants of Cultural Participation in Italy: An Empirical Analysis of Survey Data” — Author: A. de Cristofaro
18–20 September 2025 – National Workshop GRINS – Spoke 8, University of Catania
Paper presented: “The Role of Cultural Participation on Different Domains of Subjective Well-Being: The Case of the Italian Regions” — Author: A. de Cristofaro
11–12 September 2025 – “Future of Sustainability” Conference, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”
Paper presented: “The Role of Cultural Participation on Different Domains of Subjective Well-Being: The Case of the Italian Regions” — Author: A. de Cristofaro
24–27 June 2025 – 23rd ACEI International Conference on Cultural Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Paper presented: “The Role of Cultural Participation on Different Domains of Subjective Well-Being: The Case of the Italian Regions” — Author: A. de Cristofaro
1–7 September 2024 – Summer School “Panel Data Econometrics: Theory and Applications”, University Residential Centre of Bertinoro (FC)
Lecturers: M.E. Bontempi, R. Golinelli, I. Mammi