Biography
Dr Margaret Leighton joined the University of 58吃瓜 in 2015, after receiving her PhD from the Toulouse School of Economics. Originally from Canada, she completed her undergraduates studies at Mount Allison University in Economics.
Research areas
Margaret uses data to answer questions and to test economic hypotheses. While education is her primary field of interest, she has also worked on projects in development economics and labour economics. In recent research, she has gathered and analysed data to better understand how education policies shape students鈥� school choices and performance, and how those choices determine important later outcomes such as occupations, wages, and career satisfaction.
Links:
PhD supervision
- Jakub Kowalczyk
- Mercy Rugut
- Kairat Umargaliyev
Selected publications
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Open access
Leighton, M. & Merkurieva, I., 17 Dec 2025, 58吃瓜: University of 58吃瓜, 38 p. (Economics discussion papers (58吃瓜); no. 2505).
Research output: Working paper
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Open access
Leighton, M. & Speer, J. D., 6 Nov 2025, 58吃瓜: University of 58吃瓜, 11 p. (Economics discussion papers (58吃瓜); no. 2502).
Research output: Working paper
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Open access
Leighton, M. A. & Speer, J., 9 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Education Finance and Policy. Early Access, p. 1-25
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Bhatia, K. & Leighton, M., 24 Apr 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Development Studies. Latest Articles, 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Leighton, M., Martine, A., Massaga, J. & Bunzari, E., Jul 2024, Providence, RI: Annenberg Institute at Brown University, 43 p. (EdWorkingPapers; no. 24-996).
Research output: Working paper
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Open access
Leighton, M. A., Martine, A. & Massaga, J., 1 Oct 2023, In: World Development. 170, 23 p., 106335.
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Leighton, M. A. & Speer, J. D., 1 Jan 2023, In: The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy. 23, 1, p. 285-292 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Bhatia, K. & Leighton, M., 30 Nov 2022, 58吃瓜: University of 58吃瓜, 38 p. (School of Economics and Finance Discussion Paper; no. 2206).
Research output: Working paper
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Open access
Leighton, M. A., Dec 2022, In: Economics of Education Review. 91, 102312.
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Leighton, M., 29 Jun 2021, 58吃瓜: University of 58吃瓜, p. 1-54, (School of Economics and Finance Discussion Paper; no. 2101).
Research output: Working paper 鈥� Discussion paper