Mauricio Espinoza
Welcome to my website!
I am a development economist specializing in agricultural economics, impact evaluation, and the political economy of development. I obtained my PhD in Development Economics from Wageningen University in December 2025, where my dissertation examined how landed elites, redistribution policies, and institutional barriers shape long-term development trajectories in Peru.
My research examines the productivity and governance of agricultural systems, the long-term effects of redistributive policies, and the role of collective action and social ties in rural development. I investigate how historical institutions interact with contemporary policies to shape agricultural productivity, human capital accumulation, and economic opportunities for small producers and rural households.
Methodologically, I combine experimental and quasi-experimental designs, spatial econometrics, and panel data analysis to address causal questions in development economics. My work spans impact evaluation of social programs, analysis of food systems and market governance, and historical economic analysis of institutional change.
My research has primarily focused on Peru and Latin America, with additional projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. I have published in journals including the Journal of Development Economics, Economic Development and Cultural Change, Land Use Policy, and the Journal of Development Studies. I am an adjunct researcher at GRADE (Group for the Analysis of Development) in Lima and have collaborated with the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Institute of Development Studies.
You can find more information about me in my CV.
Email: mauricio.espinoza7@gmail.com