I am an Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Public Service at NYU Wagner and a lead researcher with Projeto Amazonia 2030. My research analyzes how government agencies can protect workers, the environment and consumers 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 my work in academic journals. Since 2020, I have been expanding on this foundation to study climate policy and ways to foster forest-friendly enterprises in the Amazon. I frame it as a productivist response to mainstream environmentalism. Given the urgency of the topic, I chose to publish much of my work in Portuguese to reach those shaping the future of that vital region. As part of this effort, I write monthly op-eds for O Estado de São Paulo, one of Brazil’s leading newspapers
My work has attracted significant media attention in Brazil and internationally. It has also gained enough traction in policy circles that core elements have been incorporated into federal and state-level government initiatives in Brazil. Through direct involvement with their implementation, I am gaining first-hand insights into the challenges and opportunities of green growth.
Outside academia, I chair the board at IMAZON, a leading environmental think tank in Belém, Brazil, and serve on the board of Conexsus-USA, a microcredit organization based in Rio de Janeiro.
I hold a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from MIT, an M.A. 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.
Sustainable Development
Since 2020, I have been researching how to foster forest-friendly enterprises across the Brazilian Amazon. In particular, I examine the challenges these businesses face and the ways these challenges can be overcome, often with some support by government agencies. Most of this work has been published in Portuguese (Amazônia 2030 PT), with some reports summarized and translated into English (Amazônia 2030 EN). On occasion, I publish articles written directly in English for policy, professional, and industry audiences (Other Articles).
Scholarly Publications
My scholarly work examines how regulations are enforced and followed in developing countries. I study labor, environmental, food safety, and urban planning laws, primarily in Brazil. My research reveals that regulatory enforcement is not simply about imposing rules, but involves inspectors and prosecutors who realign incentives among stakeholders. I study how developing countries maintain a high regulatory bar despite global competition, and how local producers meet international standards despite resource limitations. This work contributes to our understanding of how markets can be both vibrant and humane.
Op-eds
As part of my policy engagement, I write regular op-eds on forest-friendly local economic development for a range of publications. From 2021 to 2023, I wrote bilingual monthly op-eds for PlenaMata, a specialized environmental news portal. Since 2024, I have been contributing monthly op-eds for O Estado de São Paulo, one of Brazil’s leading newspapers. Throughout this period, I occasionally joined distinguished co-authors to write op-eds for O Globo and other outlets.