Marco DI CATALDO

Marco Di Cataldo is a Researcher at the Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where he focuses on policy evaluation, regional economics, and public finance. He also holds an Affiliate Post-doctoral Researcher position at the Department of Geography & Environment, London School of Economics. His research bridges economic geography, political economy, and regional development.

• PhD in Economic Geography, London School of Economics (2013–2018)
• MSc in Local Economic Development, London School of Economics (2011–2012)
• MA in Economic Development, University of Bologna (2008–2010)
• BA in Social and Political Sciences, University of Bologna (2005–2008)

Marco's research examines the interplay between institutional structures, public policy, and regional development. He investigates how EU funds influence local governance and economic outcomes, the impact of organized crime on public resource allocation, and the effectiveness of regional development strategies like Smart Specialization. His work combines empirical policy analysis with spatial economic modeling.

Recent publications highlight trends in EU Structural Funds, FDI promotion, institutional corruption, and urban governance. His studies often employ causal inference methods and focus on Italy, the UK, and broader EU contexts. Marco teaches courses on Macroeconomics, Causal Inference for policy analysis, and International Political Economy.

Collaborators include scholars such as Riccardo Crescenzi, Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, and Stefano Magrini, reflecting interdisciplinary ties between economics, political science, and geography.