Eduardo Montero

Eduardo Montero serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, specializing in development economics, political economy, and economic history with regional expertise in Central America and Central Africa. His research examines how institutions and culture shape development policy and long-term economic trajectories.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Economics, Harvard University (2018)
• MS in Statistics, Stanford University (2011)
• BA in Economics, Stanford University (2010)

Montero's research integrates historical analysis with contemporary development challenges, focusing on land reform, disease control, religious institutions, and colonial legacies. His methodological approach combines empirical economics with deep contextual understanding of institutional frameworks in low-income regions, particularly investigating how cultural norms interact with policy interventions.

Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal consistent thematic focus on institutional persistence, with major clusters examining: 1) Disease control impacts (Chagas/Ebola), 2) Land tenure systems (El Salvador/Central America), 3) Colonial legacies (Congo Free State), and 4) Cultural economics (religious festivals/Fair Trade). These works demonstrate methodological diversity spanning econometric analysis of historical data, field experiments, and policy evaluation.

Key professional recognitions include:

• Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies (2019-2022)
• Affiliate, Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD)

As a faculty member at the Harris School, Montero advises graduate students in public policy and economics, though specific advisees are not publicly listed. His research collaborations involve multidisciplinary teams focused on Central America and Central Africa, supported through NBER and BREAD networks. Current projects extend his analysis of institutional evolution into contemporary policy challenges including climate adaptation and governance reform.

He maintains active research partnerships with institutions in Costa Rica (his country of origin) and Brazil, with fieldwork informing his empirical studies of development interventions.