M.V. (Milena) Nikolova, Prof

Professor of the Economics of Well-being

Faculty of Economics and Business

Telephone:

+31 50 36 33458

E-mail:

m.v.nikolova rug.nl

Homepage ORCID Research Portal

Research interests

Research interests: the economics of happiness, technological change, labor economics, international development, and entrepreneurship. My current work forms the Human-Centered Technological Change initiative: https://milena-nikolova.owlstown.net/pages/10014

Publications

Work Meaning and Motivation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Work Well-being

Nikolova, M. (Editor), May-2026, Springer. 207 p. (Economic Studies in Inequality, Social Exclusion and Well-Being)

Research output: Book/Report › Book › Academic › peer-review

Let Me Check on You: Worker Well-Being Under AI and Human Health and Safety Monitoring

Nikolova, M., 18-Aug-2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Wellbeing Economics.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Robots, Meaning, and Self-Determination

Nikolova, M., Cnossen, F. & Nikolaev, B., Jun-2024, In: Research Policy. 53, 5, 23 p., 104987.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

What makes work meaningful and why economists should care about it

Nikolova, M. & Cnossen, F., Aug-2020, In: Labour Economics. 65, 15 p., 101847.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

When AI Does the Work: Does Attribution Shape Meaning and Effort?

Nikolova, M., Milanova, V. & Wang, F., 2026, Global Labor Organization, 52 p. (GLO Discussion Papers; no. 1788).

Research output: Working paper › Discussion paper › Academic

Stalin and the origins of mistrust

Nikolova, M., Popova, O. & Otrachshenko, V., Apr-2022, In: Journal of Public Economics. 208, 21 p., 104629.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Work orientations and turnover

Nikolova, M. & de Wit, J., 2026, In: Journal of Population Economics. 39, 33.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Corrigendum to “Family matters: The effects of parental unemployment in early childhood and adolescence on subjective well-being later in life” [Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 181 (2021) 312-331]

Nikolova, M. & Nikolaev, B., May-2026, In: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 245, 1 p., 107509.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Erratum

Early-Life Adversity and Preferences for Redistribution: A Global Perspective

Marchesi, D., Angelini, V., Nikolova, M. & Popova, O., 2026, Global Labor Organization, 74 p. (GLO Discussion Paper; no. 1750).

Research output: Working paper › Discussion paper › Academic

Gini who? The relationship between inequality perceptions and life satisfaction

Marchesi, D., Nikolova, M. & Angelini, V., 23-Apr-2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Economic Inequality. 33 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

All (59) publications

Press/media

Bulgarije in de euro: van inflatieangst naar voorzichtig optimisme

Nikolova, M.

31/08/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

같은 문장인데, AI가 썼다고 하면 마음은 왜 슬쩍 식을까

Nikolova, M., Milanova, V. & Wang, F.

08/08/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

When people think AI did the creative work, task meaning and effort decline

Nikolova, M., Milanova, V. & Wang, F.

03/08/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Professional

Humanoid Robots and the Gap Between Hype and Reality | Bloomberg Primer

Nikolova, M.

29/04/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

HR Reporter

Nikolova, M.

04/03/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Professional

Humanoid robots roll into work, raising new questions for HR

Nikolova, M.

04/03/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

Bulgaarse inflatieangst wordt gevoed door misinformatie

Nikolova, M.

20/01/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Professional

‘Bulgaarse inflatieangst wordt gevoed door misinformatie’

Nikolova, M.

19/01/2026

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

Workplace Robots Heighten Stress Among Workers

Nikolova, M.

05/10/2025

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Popular

Why people mistrust AI advancements

Nikolova, M. & Angrisani, M.

20/08/2025

Press/Media: Expert Comment › Professional

All (50) press/media

View full research profile

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

More information about the Sustainable Development Goals.

M.V. (Milena) Nikolova, Prof

Research interests

Publications

Press/media

Sustainable Development Goals

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