On March 11, 2026, the Graduate School (Research) hosted a special session of the Graduate Café, featuring distinguished guest Manzura Jumaniyazova, Researcher in Development Economics and Global Health at the Technical University of Munich. The event, titled "Gender, Birth Order, and Child Growth: Evidence from Central Asia," provided an insightful exploration of how gender norms and household dynamics shape child development outcomes in the region.

Manzura Jumaniyazova presented compelling evidence from applied microeconometric analysis, examining the complex interplay between birth order, gender, and early childhood growth in low- and middle-income contexts. Her research highlighted how intra-household dynamics and deeply rooted gender norms influence child health outcomes across Central Asia, offering critical insights for development policy and intervention design.

Participants actively engaged in a rich discussion following the presentation, exploring questions on measurement challenges, policy implications, and avenues for future research.