In Spring 2024, I will be visiting the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, one of the world’s leading research centres devoted to understanding human cognition and behavior. I will be working at the Group Decision Neuroscience of the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging led by Alan Sanfey. During my time at the Donders Institute I will be conducting further research for my book IGNITE.

My book “IGNITE – Unlock your brain’s true potential – and change your life” will be published in Spring 2025 by Bedford Square Publishers and Cargo/De Bezige Bij. The Chinese translation will be published in 2026 by Booky Culture Media

Unlock the secrets to a happier you with IGNITE. Despite a successful academic career, Neeltje van Horen wrestled with self-doubt and insecurities. Her life transformed when she chose to face her challenges head-on, embarking on a quest to unlock the untapped potential of her brain.

In IGNITE, van Horen shares the secrets to maximizing your brain’s capabilities. Through a unique blend of personal storytelling and rigorous scientific research, she presents practical strategies for enhancing cognition, boosting memory, fostering creativity, and cultivating a positive mindset. 

Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and economics, this comprehensive guide hands you the keys to unlocking your brain’s true potential. Discover how small shifts in your thinking and daily routines can spark significant changes in your life. 

IGNITE is your roadmap to a richer, more fulfilling life, whether you’re an academic, creative, CEO, student, or a stay-at-home parent. Let it serve as your compass to better decision-making, increased productivity, and the work-life balance you crave. Discover the power within you and ignite change today!

Karsten Muller and I are excited to announce that we have begun the process of updating the Bank Ownership Database. This comprehensive resource will soon include ownership information for a large number of banks spanning from 1995 to 2022. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements!

In this paper (joint with Belinda Tracey) we shed new light on the relationship between the down payment requirement and housing wealth inequality. Studying the UK Help-to-Buy program we show that lowering the down payment requirement reduces housing wealth inequality by weakening the link between (parental) wealth and homeownership.  

Friday 28th October I will deliver my Inaugural Lecture “Financing Future Economic Growth” at the University of Amsterdam. I will talk about the importance of finance for economic growth and how improvement of finance for SMEs, in particular young, high-potential ones, will be a crucial factor generating future economic growth, lower long-term inflation and the transition to net-zero.

Inaugural Lecture [PDF]