Robert M. Gonzalez

Robert M. Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in the School of Economics at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on development economics and public economics, with an emphasis on the application of information-communication technologies (ICTs) and GIS data to study conflict, crime, public health, and urban development. He has conducted fieldwork in India, Liberia, and Brazil, and his recent work examines how cellphone technology impacts fragile environments, such as deterring election fraud in Afghanistan and containing disease spread during the 2014 Ebola epidemic.

Previously, he served as an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (2016), along with an MA and BA in Economics from UNC-Chapel Hill and Florida International University, respectively.

Gonzalez teaches courses including Econometric Analysis, Economic Development, and Development Economics, emphasizing quantitative methods and policy applications. His research has explored topics such as the role of mobile technology in mitigating conflict, crime prevention through community monitoring, and the long-term impacts of epidemics on urban landscapes.

Recent articles highlight his work on crime deterrence in drug-free zones, corruption monitoring mechanisms, and the interplay between voting location and election fraud. His interdisciplinary approach bridges economics, technology, and policy to address global challenges in development and public health.