I am an Associate Professor at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a lead researcher with Projeto Amazônia 2030. My work focuses on how government agencies can protect workers, the environment, consumers and citizens in general, while enhancing private firms’ ability to compete.
Early in my career, I examined the enforcement of labor laws and food safety standards, and published much of this work in English-language academic journals. Occasionally, my findings reached beyond academia, resonating with practitioners and a broader audience.More recently, I shifted towards studying climate policy and have been examining how we can foster forest-friendly enterprises in the Brazilian Amazon. To engage the decision-makers who can shape the future of this vital region, I chose to publish most of my findings in Portuguese. As part of this effort, I have been writing monthly op-eds for O Estado de São Paulo, one of Brazil’s leading newspapers.
My research on forest-based economic development has attracted significant attention from both Brazilian and international press. It has also gained traction in policy circles. As a result, some of its key ideas have been incorporated into federal and state-level government initiatives in Brazil. Through my ongoing involvement in implementation, I am gaining first-hand insights into the challenges and opportunities of green growth.
Through my writing, I also examine how government bureaucracies implement policies. Too often, researchers propose solutions without considering the administrative and political constraints that elected leaders and public servants face. They then criticize these agents for failing to deliver the expected results. I believe the real challenge for scholars is to understand what government agencies can achieve considering their latent capabilities and enduring constraints, and to design policies that can produce the best possible outcomes.
I hold a Doctorate in Urban Studies and Planning from MIT, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo, Brazil. My CV is here. And you can connect with me on LinkedIn or by email here.
The Amazônia 2030 project is an initiative of Brazilian researchers devoted to developing a blueprint for sustainable development in the Amazon. Through this engagement, I study how government policies can promote the growth of forest-friendly enterprises. While I’ve written primarily in Portuguese to reach key decision-makers within Brazil, I’ve also published occasional pieces in English to engage a global audience.
Op-eds