Welfare effects, perceptions, and preferences for refugee local integration: Host-refugee dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa
This dissertation investigates how refugees and host communities in Uganda navigate the economic, social, and political dimensions of local integration. Using econometric, experimental, and qualitative evidence, it shows that refugee inflows can improve host welfare—particularly in rural areas—through livelihood diversification and shifts toward commercial agriculture. Despite these gains, host attitudes are shaped more by perceived than actual labour market competition, with intergroup contact and ethnolinguistic proximity reducing misperceptions. The dissertation further finds broad support for social and economic inclusion but persistent reluctance toward political and legal incorporation. Together, the findings demonstrate how welfare effects, perceptions, and institutional frameworks jointly shape the possibilities and limits of refugee inclusion in protracted displacement settings.
Supervisors: Prof. Olivier Sterck (IOB, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ) and Prof. Jean-Francois Maystadt (UC Louvain)
Venue: ​
The PhD defence will be .​
