Santiago Tobón

Santiago Tobón is a Professor of Economics at Universidad EAFIT in Medellín, Colombia. He received his PhD in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in 2018, an MA in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in 2017, and an MA in Economics from Université catholique de Louvain in 2012. Prior to joining Universidad EAFIT, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Chicago Pearson Institute & Innovations for Poverty Action Peace and Recovery Program. He has also held visiting positions at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, the Inter-American Development Bank, and UNU-WIDER.

His research focuses on peacebuilding in post-conflict societies, especially on the market structure, personnel economics, and political economy of organized crime, as well as on the challenges and opportunities for developing state capacity to advance peace and stability. Most of his research focuses on Latin America.

Santiago is also affiliated with Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) (where he is also Co-Director of the Latin America Regional Hub), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), and Households in Conflict Network—HiCN.

He received the 2020 Juan Luis Londoño Medal, awarded every two years to Colombians of 40 years or less who deserve recognition for the impact of their research and policy work on the welfare of Colombians.

As a UNU-WIDER Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow, he is involved in the Building trust and institutions for peace.