I am an applied economist, interested in political economy and development economics. I have conducted research on the causes and consequences of civil war, the economics of crime, and the challenges of peace and state building. My research has appeared in journals such as RESTUD, RESTAT, APSR, AJPS, Management Science,  AEJ: Policy, EJ, and JPubE.

Before joining Collegio Carlo Alberto and UniTo, I was Professor of Economics at Universidad del Rosario, where I was named Distinguished Professor in 2014. 

I am the the scientific director of the America Latina Crime and Policy Network (AL CAPONE) of the Latin America and the Caribbean Economics Association (LACEA). 

I have held visiting academic positions at NYU, Harvard, and UCLA. I have served on the board of LACEA and Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP). I was the conference chairman of the 2021 LACEA-LAMES Annual Meeting.

In 2018, I obtained the Juan Luis Londoño Medal Award, granted every two years to a Colombian, aged 40 or younger, who deserves recognition for their contributions to the well-being of Colombians through research that impacts the design and implementation of public policies.