Francisco R. Rodríguez

Francisco R. Rodríguez is the Rice Family Professor of the Practice of International and Public Affairs at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. A Venezuelan economist, he holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Venezuela. His career spans academia, international organizations, and the private sector, including roles as Head of the Venezuelan National Assembly’s Economic Advisory (2000-2004), Head of the UN Human Development Report Office’s Research Team (2008-2011), and Chief Andean Economist at Bank of America (2011-2016).

Rodríguez has taught at the University of Maryland, Wesleyan University, and IESA. He is the founder of Oil for Venezuela, a nonprofit addressing Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. His research focuses on economic growth, Latin American political economy, and Venezuela’s economic collapse. Over 60 peer-reviewed articles have appeared in journals like the American Economic Journal and Journal of Economic Growth, alongside contributions to Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, and New York Times. His upcoming book, The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012-2020 (Notre Dame Press, 2025), analyzes Venezuela’s economic crisis.

He has held visiting roles at Tulane University’s Stone Center, Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute, and as a Council on Foreign Relations Fellow. His work bridges academic research, policy analysis, and public engagement on economic development challenges in Latin America.