Carla Sá is Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Minho, and researcher at NIPE (Economic Policies Research Unit) and CIPES (Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies). She holds a PhD in Economics from the Tinbergen Institute/Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Her general research interests are in the intersection of economics of education and spatial economics, with particular emphasis on student decision-making process. Her research has been published in Regional Studies, Spatial Economics Analysis, CESifo Economic Studies, Higher Education, Studies in Higher Educationa and European Journal of Education. She has been involved in research projects funded by the FCT (National Science Foundation), A3ES (Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education) and FFMS (Francisco Manuel dos Santos Fundation). She has served as consultant for the Portuguese Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity and the ILO (Int. Labour Organization).
Economics of Education
Labour Economics
Applied Econometrics
Selected publications
Ngoy, E., Sá, C., & Veiga, P. (2024). Exploring socioeconomic-related inequality in children’s cognitive achievement in Peru. Journal of Economic Inequality, 22(3), 809–832. DOI
Lourenço, D., Sá, C., Tavares, O., & Cardoso, S. (2020). Enrolling in Higher Education: the impact of regional mobility and public-private substitution effects. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(1), 183–197. DOI
Sá, C., Florax, R. J. G. M., & Rietveld, P. (2012). Living Arrangement and University Choice of Dutch Prospective Students. Regional Studies, 46(5), 651–667. DOI
Portela, M. A., Areal, N. M. P. C., Sá, C., Alexandre, F., Cerejeira, J., Carvalho, A., & Rodrigues, A. (2008). Evaluating student allocation in the Portuguese public higher education system. Higher Education, 56(2), 185–203. DOI
Sá, C., Florax, R. J. G. M., & Rietveld, P. (2004). Determinants of the regional demand for higher education in the Netherlands: A gravity model approach. Regional Studies, 38(4), 375–392. DOI
Other publications
Ngoy, E., Sá, C., & Veiga, P. (2024). Exploring socioeconomic-related inequality in children’s cognitive achievement in Peru. Journal of Economic Inequality, 22(3), 809–832. DOI
Pelegrini, T., Sá, C., & França, M. T. A. (2023). Factors associated with the mobility of college students in Brazil: an analysis using a gravity model. Higher Education, 85(1), 203–223. DOI
Tavares, O., Sin, C., Carla, S., Pereira, F., & Amaral, A. (2023). Graduate employment: Does the type of higher education institution matter? Bulletin of Economic Research, 75(4), 1140–1156. DOI
Lourenço, D., & Sá, C. (2022). Estimating the effect of distance on the migration of higher education candidates. B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy, 22(4), 739–761 . DOI
Sá, C., Tavares, O., & Sin, C. (2022). Who is left out? Inequalities in higher education admissions and placements in Portugal. In O. Tavares, C. Sá, C. Sin, & A. Amaral (Eds.), Equity Policies in Global Higher Education (pp. 171–193). Palgrave MacMillan. DOI
Tavares, O., Sin, C., & Sá, C. (2022). Conclusion: Learning from the Past to Shape Future Policies Towards Equity in Higher Education. In O. Tavares, C. Sá, C. Sin, & A. Amaral (Eds.), Equity Policies in Global Higher Education (pp. 221–238). Palgrave MacMillan. DOI
Tavares, O., Sin, C., Carla, S., Bugla, S., & Amaral, A. (2022). Inbreeding and research collaborations in Portuguese higher education. Higher Education Quarterly, 76(1), 102–115. DOI
Teixeira, P. N., Silva, P. L., Biscaia, R., & Carla, S. (2022). Competition and diversification in higher education: Analysing impacts on access and equity in the case of Portugal. European Journal of Education, 57(2), 235–254. DOI
Biscaia, R., Sá, C., & Teixeira, P. N. (2021). The (In)effectiveness of regulatory policies in higher education—The case of access policy in Portugal. Economic Analysis and Policy, 72, 176–185. DOI
Teixeira, P., Sá, C., Cerejeira, J., Figueiredo, H., & Portela, M. (2021). Mass Higher Education and its Civic Impacts in Portugal and Spain. Journal of Education Finance, 46(4), 496–518. DOI
Valente, M., Sá, C., Soares, N., & Sousa, S. (2021). Exploring the consistency of ethical perceptions by business and economics higher education students: Looking from academia towards the corporate world. International Journal of Management Education, 19(2), 100499. DOI
Lourenço, D., Sá, C., Tavares, O., & Cardoso, S. (2020). Enrolling in Higher Education: the impact of regional mobility and public-private substitution effects. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(1), 183–197. DOI
Pinto, L. M. C., Sá, C., Soares, N., Sousa, S., & Valente, M. (2020). The case for academic hazing as a rational choice: An economic approach. Economic Analysis and Policy, 66, 51–62. DOI
Lourenço, D., & Sá, C. (2019). Spatial competition for students: what does (not) matter? Annals of Regional Science, 63(1), 147–162. DOI
Sá, C. (2019). Economic determinants of higher education demand. In P. Teixeira & J. Shin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of International Higher Education Systems and Institutions. Springer. DOI
Sá, C., & Tavares, O. (2018). How student choice consistency affects the success of applications in Portuguese higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 43(12), 2148–2160. DOI
Figueiredo, H., Portela, M., Sá, C., Cerejeira, J., Almeida, A., & Lourenço, D. (2017). Benefícios do Ensino Superior. Lisbon, Portugal: Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos. DOI
Bontje, M., Musterd, S., & Rouwendal, J. (2016). Housing and location preferences of higher educated workers in the Netherlands: An introduction. In S. Musterd, M. Bontje, & J. Rouwendal (Eds.), Skills and Cities (pp. 59–62). New York, USA: Routledge. DOI
Fonseca, M., Dias, D., Sá, C., & Amaral, A. (2014). Waves of (dis)satisfaction: Effects of the numerus clausus system in Portugal. European Journal of Education, 49(1), 144–158. DOI
Teixeira, P., Cerejeira, J., Simões, M., Sá, C., & Portela, M. (2014). Educação, Economia e Capital Humano – Notas Sobre um Paradoxo. In F. Alexandre, P. Bação, P. Lains, M. M. F. Martins, M. Portela, & M. Simões (Eds.), A Economia Portuguesa na União Europeia: 1986 – 2010 (pp. 329–355). Coimbra: Actual Editora. DOI
Sá, C., Dias, D., & Tavares, O. (2013). Tendências recentes no ensino superior potuguês. Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior. DOI
Sá, C., Florax, R. J. G. M., & Rietveld, P. (2012). Living Arrangement and University Choice of Dutch Prospective Students. Regional Studies, 46(5), 651–667. DOI
Sá, C., Tavares, D. A., Justino, E., & Amaral, A. (2011). Higher education (related) choices in Portugal: Joint decisions on institution type and leaving home. Studies in Higher Education, 36(6), 689–703. DOI
Alexandre, F., Portela, M., & Sá, C. (2009). Admission conditions and graduates' employability. Studies in Higher Education, 34(7), 795–805. DOI
Cerejeira, J., Portela, M., Sá, C., & Alexandre, F. (2009). Os fluxos e as remunerações de sub- e sobre-escolarizados em Portugal no período 1995-2005 (Vol. 23). Lisboa: Ministério do Trabalho e da Segurança Social, Gabinete de Estratégia e Planeamento (MTSS/GEP). DOI
Pereira, O. P., Sá, C., Portela, M., & Pinto, E. (2009). Transição dos Licenciados para o Mercado de Trabalho. In J. M. Roig-Cotanda & L. E. Vila-Lladosa (Eds.), Investigaciones de Economía de La Educación (pp. 459–467). Asociación de la Economía de la Educación - AEDE. DOI
Portela, M., Sá, C., Alexandre, F., & Cardoso, A. R. (2009). Perceptions of the Bologna process: What do students' choices reveal? Higher Education, 58(4), 465–474. DOI
Teixeira, P., Fonseca, M., Amado, D., Sá, C., & Amaral, A. (2009). A Regional Mismatch? Student Applications and Institutional Responses in the Portuguese Public Higher Education System. In K. Mohrman, J. Shi, S. E. Feinblatt, & K. W. Chow (Eds.), Public Universities and Regional Development (pp. 59–80). Sichuan Uninversity Press. DOI
Cardoso, A. R., Sá, C., Portela, M., & Alexandre, F. (2008). Demand for higher education programs: the impact of the Bologna process. CESifo Economic Studies, 54(2), 229–247. DOI
Portela, M. A., Areal, N. M. P. C., Sá, C., Alexandre, F., Cerejeira, J., Carvalho, A., & Rodrigues, A. (2008). Evaluating student allocation in the Portuguese public higher education system. Higher Education, 56(2), 185–203. DOI
Cerejeira, J., Sá, C., & Portela, M. (2007). Nota Introdutória. In M. do T. e da S. S. (M. T. S. S. Gabinete de Estratégia e Planeamento (GEP) (Ed.), Quadros de Pessoal e Investigação em Economia (Vol. 9, pp. 3–6). Lisboa: Ministério do Trabalho e da Segurança Social, Gabinete de Estratégia e Planeamento (MTSS/GEP). DOI
Sá, C., Dismuke, C. E., & Guimarães, P. P. (2007). Survival analysis and competing risk models of hospital length of stay and discharge destination: The effect of distributional assumptions. Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology, 7(3-4), 109–124. DOI
Sá, C., Florax, R. J. G. M., & Rietveld, P. (2006). Does accessibility to higher education matter? Choice behaviour of high school graduates in the Netherlands | L'accessibilité à l'enseignement supérieur importe-t-elle? Comportement du choix des diplômés de l'enseignement secondaire au pays-bas. Spatial Economic Analysis, 1(2), 155–174. DOI
Sá, C., Florax, R. J. G. M., & Rietveld, P. (2004). Determinants of the regional demand for higher education in the Netherlands: A gravity model approach. Regional Studies, 38(4), 375–392. DOI
Calculus for Economics and Management
Bachelor
Project in Applied Economics
Bachelor
