José Rafael Arenas R.

About me

I am a PhD in Engineering Systems from Universidad de Chile and hold a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. My research focuses on consumer finance and behavioral economics, applying AI and quantitative methods to improve consumer financial well-being.

Research Interests

• Consumer Finance and Causal Econometrics: I investigate consumer financial behavior using rigorous econometric methods to identify causal relationships and inform policy decisions.

• Consumer Financial Services: My work examines consumer loan payment patterns and acquisition decisions, the behavioral impacts of gambling and fintech applications, and their effects on mental health outcomes.

Hello! I'm José.

My current research focuses on consumer finance, investigating how financial products and services affect household well-being. I study consumer loan offers, credit card repayment behavior, the effects of gambling on personal finances, and the impact of digital counseling on financial outcomes. I am particularly interested in applying AI and quantitative methods to better understand these dynamics.

Since 2023, I serve as a part-time professor at Universidad de Chile's School of Engineering, where I teach Data Analysis and Causal Inference. Throughout my academic journey, I have been involved in research projects spanning health economics, pension systems, game theory, corporate finance, and political sciences, while serving as a teaching assistant in over 15 undergraduate and graduate courses.

My commitment to rigorous methodology and collaborative research has allowed me to work with accomplished scholars across universities and foundations. I am passionate about studying market imperfections, learning new econometric methods, and working toward meaningful research that can positively impact people's financial lives.