Maria Vaalavuo
Name: Maria Vaalavuo
Job title: Chief researcher
Tel: +358-295246754
E-mail: firstname.lastname@thl.fi
Expertise
- Health and social inequalities
- Poverty and income inequality
- Intergenerational transmission of disadvantage
- Social sustainability
- Immigrants’ income trajectories
Primary duties
- Research
- Expert advice
Education
- 2020, Adjunct Professor (docent) in Sociology, University of Turku
- 2011, PhD, social and political sciences, European University Institute (Florence, Italy)
2006, Master of political sciences, social policy, University of Turku
Work experience
- Socio-economic analyst at the Directorate-General of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion / European Commission
- Senior officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Language skills
- Finnish (mother tongue)
- Swedish (fair)
- English (excellent)
- French (excellent)
- Italian (fair)
Current projects
- SustAgeable - Economic and social sustainability across time and space in an ageing societyLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- MEDIG – Mental health and disadvantage over the life course: investigation into genes, family and living conditions
- INVEST – Inequalities, interventions, and New Welfare StateLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
Past projects
- CHAMPS – Climate change and Health: Adapting to Mental, Physical and Societal challenges
- JUST-FOOD – Sustainable, Climate-Smart and Just Food SystemLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- SOCCAN – The economic burden of cancer among families and the role of social insurance
- Health of Young Social Assistance Clients
- Urbanization, Mobilities and Immigration (URMI)
- Project on user fees in social and health services
Publications
Doctoral dissertation
Scientific articles
- Astone, R. & Vaalavuo, M. (2022) Climate Change and Health: Consequences of High Temperatures among Vulnerable Groups in Finland.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab International Journal of Health Services.
- Vaalavuo, M. (2021) The unequal impact of ill health: Earnings, employment, and mental health among breast cancer survivors in FinlandLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab. Labour Economics.
- Riekhoff, A-J. & Vaalavuo, M. (2021) Health shocks and couples’ labor market participation: A turning point or stuck in the trajectory?Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Social Science & Medicine.
- Vaalavuo, M. , Bakkum, B. (2020) Mental Health Problems at a Critical Juncture: Exit from Social Assistance among Young Finns. JLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tabournal of Social Policy.
- Vaalavuo, M. (2019) Use of public health and social care services among the elderly in Finland: An under-examined mechanism of redistribution.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Journal of European Social Policy.
- Sääksvuori, L., Vaalavuo, M., Linnosmaa, I. (2018) Pieces in a big puzzle: On the relationship between health and employment. Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab(Guest editorial) Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. Vol. 46, issue 19 supplement.
- Vaalavuo M. The development of healthcare use among a cohort of Finnish social assistance clients: testing the social selection hypothesis.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Sosiology of Health an Illness.August 2016. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12458.
- Vaalavuo M. Deterioration in health: What is the role of unemployment and poverty? Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tabScandinavian Journal of Public Health. June 2016, 44 (4) 347-353.
- Vaalavuo M. The Redistributive Impact of ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Social Spending.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Journal of Social Policy / Volume 42 / Issue 03 / July 2013, s. 513-539.
- Vaalavuo M., van Ham M., Kauppinen T.M. (2019) Income Mobility and Moving to a Better Neighbourhood: An Enquiry into Ethnic Differences in Finland.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab European Sociological Review.
- Vaalavuo M, Sihvola M.W. Are the Sick Left Behind at the Peripheries? Health Selection in Migration to Growing Urban Centres in Finland.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab European Journal of Population.
Scientifiac books
- Vaalavuo, M. (2020) The unequal impact of ill health: earnings, employment and mental health among breast cancer survivors in Finland.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab INVEST working paper, 9/2020.
- Vaalavuo M. (2015). Poverty Dynamics in Europe: From What to Why.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Working Paper 03/2015. European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion.
- Verbist G, Förster M, Vaalavuo M (2012) The Impact of Publicly Provided Services on the Distribution of Resources: Review of New Results and Methods. Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tabPariisi: OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers.
- Marical F, Mira d’Ercole M, Vaalavuo M, Verbist G. (2006) Publicly-provided Services and the Distribution of Resources.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab Pariisi: OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers.
Book reviews
- Joutsenvirta ym. (2016) Talous kasvun jälkeen.Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Saari J. (2015) Huono-osaiset. Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
Website
- BlueskyLink to an external websiteAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
- ORCIDLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- ResearchGateLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
