I am a Professor of Economics (2006-) at the Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno" and Dean of the School of Economics and Political Science (2024-2027) of the University of Padova. My research interests are in economic geography, historical economics, and economics of innovation. I received an MA in Economic and Social Studies in 1988 from the Victoria University of Manchester (Dissertation in Applied Microeconometrics: "Analysis of Italian Household Budget Data Using Consistent Demographic Demand Equations", Prof. R. Ray) and a Laurea in Economics from the University of Bologna in 1984.
I worked as Professor at the University of Bari (2001-2009), Bologna (1997-2001) and Ferrara (1999-2001) and as researcher at NOMISMA (1988-1991), PROMETEIA (1989-1991), ERVET (1991-1995), the National Statistical Institute (ISTAT) (1995-1997), and the National Research Council (1997-2001).
In the past, I served as Head of the Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno" (2017-2021), Vice-Dean (2012-2017), and member of the Senato Accademico of the University of Padova (2019-2021). I served as President of the Research Scientific Commission (CSA) (area: economics and statistics) (2012-2016) and as a member of the VQR Commission (2015-2016) of the University of Padova. Finally, I served as a member of the National Committee for the Selection of PRIN 2020 Projects.