In Memory of Tuomas Pekkarinen

1972–2022

A Workshop

Hotel Presidentti, Helsinki  ·  Friday, 28 August 2026

Portrait of Tuomas Pekkarinen
Tuomas Pekkarinen (1972–2022)

Tuomas Pekkarinen was Research Professor at the VATT Institute for Economic Research and taught at Aalto University. An empirical labour economist, he studied how education policy shapes social mobility and equality of opportunity, along with the role of gender and family background — work that paired methodological rigour with a lasting commitment to questions that matter for society.

Tuomas passed away suddenly on 29 November 2022. This one-day workshop brings together his co-authors, colleagues, and students from across the stages of his career to remember him and to celebrate his work.

Read more — English translations: Obituary (Helsingin Sanomat)  ·  In Memoriam (Kansantaloudellinen aikakauskirja)
Finnish originals: Helsingin Sanomat · Kansantaloudellinen aikakauskirja (PDF)

Preliminary Programme

9:30–10:30
Introduction
  1. Roope UusitaloWork in Progress
  2. Marko TerviöUnderachievement in Cognitive Tests: Evidence from Finnish Military Conscripts
  3. Juhana VartiainenThe Economist as a Mayor: Climbing Towards the Pareto Frontier
10:30–11:00
Coffee
11:00–12:40
The doctoral years
  1. Konstantinos TatsiramosOn the Origins of Socioeconomic Inequalities: Evidence from Twin Families
  2. Daniela VuriDegrees of Deception: How Test Score Manipulation Mitigates Temperature’s Impact on Student Performance
  3. Miquel PellicerIs There a Bias in the Tax Policy-Making Process towards Better-Off Citizens?
  4. Andrea IchinoGender-Based Policy and Signaling
12:40–14:00
Lunch
At Sokos Presidentti
14:00–16:00
The postdoctoral years
  1. Steve MachinProductivity in Teams: Double Crewing For Police
  2. Manuel Bagues & Natalia ZinovyevaFemale Promotions and the Academic Pipeline: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
  3. Peter FredrikssonOutside Job Opportunities and the Gender Gap in Pay
  4. Kjell SalvanesThe Making of Equality: How the Second World War Shaped the Norwegian Income Distribution
  5. Sari Pekkala KerrGender Differences in Experiments and Natural Experiments
16:00–16:30
Coffee
16:30–17:30
The next generation
  1. Matti SarvimäkiFinding One’s Path: Career-Counselor Training and Students’ Educational Choices
  2. Hanna VirtanenEducation, Gender, and Family Formation
  3. Tuomo VirkolaCollege Admissions Criteria, Students' Academic Performance and Social Mobility
19:00
Dinner
Restaurant 305

Venue & practical information

Workshop venue

Hotel Sokos Presidentti
Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4, Helsinki
Seminar room Carl Gustaf
Arrival instructions

Lunch

At Sokos Presidentti. Sponsored by Helsinki GSE for presenters & out-of-town guests.

Dinner

19:00 · Restaurant 305
Toinen linja 3, Helsinki
Sponsored by EDUCA. Presenters, out-of-town guests, and by invitation only.

Run to Seurasaari

For those interested, there is an informal run to Seurasaari the following morning — Saturday, 29 August at 9:00.