Sandra Polanía Reyes

Dr. Sandra Polanía Reyes is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Navarra, Spain, and a Visiting Lecturer at ISM. Of Colombian origin, she specializes in Development Economics, Behavioral Economics, and Experimental Economics, focusing on prosocial behavior and policy interventions. Her work bridges experimental methods with real-world applications in low- and middle-income communities.

Education: She holds dual PhDs in Economics from University College London (UCL) and Political Economy from the University of Siena. She also earned a degree in Economics and Anthropology, a Master’s in Economics from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), and additional training in related fields.

Research Interests: Her work explores migration, peacebuilding, impact evaluation, cooperation, and social norms. Notably, she investigates how experimental interventions (lab and field) can design behaviorally informed policies to promote prosocial behavior. Her field experiments span Colombia, Latin America, and beyond, addressing issues like collective action, post-conflict economic behavior, and the role of institutions in development.

Teaching: She has taught at institutions including University College London (UK), the University of Notre Dame (US), and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia), covering courses such as Microeconomics, Experimental Economics, Sustainable Development, and Development Economics.

Experience: With 17 years of fieldwork in LMICs, she has contributed to projects like analyzing Colombia’s post-conflict economic dynamics, evaluating workfare programs, and studying the impact of conditional cash transfers on social capital.