Mario Bigger is Associate Professor in Development Economics at the Department of Economics, University of Florence, Italy, and the Academic Director of the Master in Development Economics. He is Scientific Director of the research Lab ARCO (Action Researcih for CO-development) of the University of Florence. He has worked for three years as consultant at UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (IRC). His research interests include impact evaluation and the theory of change, local development (clusters of small and medium enterprises, and informal activities), child labour, children and persons with disabilities and capabilities and international cooperation. He is the co-author or co-editor of seven books and has published extensively in a broad range of international journals. He is a Fellow of the Human Development Capability Association (HDCA) and co-coordinator of the thematic group on ‘Children’s capabilities’.