About me
After studying Commercial Engineering in Bolivia and Chile, I worked as a consultant for Pro-Mujer International, The World Bank, DANIDA, and JICA. I have a M.A. and a Ph.D. in International Development from Nagoya University, Japan. My research interests focus on the integration of development economics, spatial data science, and applied econometrics to understand and inform the process of sustainable development across regions. My current research deals with (1) geospatial big data analytics and socioeconomic development; (2) geospatial inequality, poverty, and growth interactions; (3) regional infrastructure and mobility flows; and (4) spatial structural change and productivity dynamics.
Download my CV.
Interests
- Applied Econometrics
- Spatial Big Data Analytics
- Regional Development
- Development Macroeconomics
Education
PhD in International Development, 2015
Nagoya University
MA in International Development, 2012
Nagoya University
Lic in Commercial Engineering, 2008
Bolivian Catholic University
QuaRCS-lab Japan
In the QuaRCS-lab and its global network, we conduct research on quantitative regional and computational science. We exploit the integration of development economics, spatial data science, and applied econometrics to understand and inform the process of sustainable development across subnational regions and countries.
When the sun goes down and the lights turn on, there’s still a lot to explore.
Let’s study regional development from outer space!
Let’s study regional development from outer space!
QUIZ: Based on the regression NTL = a + b(t), the map below shows the trends of nighttime lights. An RGB composite is used for visualization, where positive and negative slope values are represented by red and blue gradients respectively, and the intercept is represented by a green gradient.
Given these parameters, how would you interpret the yellow and cyan colors?
(Hint: Copy and paste this quiz into ChatGPT)
Given these parameters, how would you interpret the yellow and cyan colors?
(Hint: Copy and paste this quiz into ChatGPT)
What is luminosity-based GDP? How is it changing across space and time?
(Click anywhere on the map below and discover it.)
(Click anywhere on the map below and discover it.)
What can you discover from these visualizations? Where is development happening? How is the world changing? To contextualize these questions, below you will find an overview of recent advances in the exciting new field of geospatial development.
Do you conduct similar research? Are you interested in learning these and related topics? Do you want to collaborate with us?
If yes, click HERE to join our global community of researchers and learners.
Featured publications
Other Publications
Quickly discover relevant content by filtering publications.
(2025).
On the political and socioeconomic geography of violence: Spatial heterogeneity and scale effects in Brazil.
Spatial Economic Analysis.
Cite DOI Article AI Podcast Notebook: Stats Notebook: OLS Notebook: GWR Notebook: MGWR Notebook: GWR vs MGWR
(2025).
Predicting subnational GDP in Vietnam with remote sensing data: A machine learning approach.
Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences.
(2023).
Regional unemployment dynamics in Indonesia: Serial persistence, spatial dependence, and common factors.
Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences.
(2023).
Regional Okun’s law and endogeneity: evidence from the Indonesian districts.
Applied Economics Letters.
(2023).
Convergence clubs and spatial structural change in the European Union.
Structural Change and Economic Dynamics.
(2023).
Measuring and understanding regional inequality through the lens of the Indonesian experience.
Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science.
(2022).
Regional income convergence and conditioning factors in Turkey: Revisiting the role of spatial dependence and neighbor effects.
Annals of Regional Science.
Recent & Upcoming Presentations
Students and alumni
Doctoral students
Abdulah Rusli (Indonesia)
PhD student 2023-2026
Bimo Arvianto (Indonesia)
PhD student 2025-2028
Cesar Echevarria (Peru)
PhD student 2024-2027
He Du (China)
PhD student 2025-2028
Leiva Favio (Peru)
PhD student 2023-2024
Li Jiaqi (China)
PhD student 2023-2026
Li Xiaomeng (China)
PhD student 2025-2028
Phon Sophat (Cambodia)
PhD student 2024-2027
Restrepo Katerine (Colombia)
PhD student 2023-2026
Sour Heng (Cambodia)
PhD student 2023-2026
Theara Khoun (Cambodia)
PhD student 2022-2025
Doctoral students (sub advisor)
Hussein Suleiman (Egypt)
PhD student 2022-2025
Minh Thu (Vietnam)
PhD student 2022-2025
Master students
Kanyama Yuna (Japan)
Master student 2024-2026
Mujkanovic Adin (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Master student 2025-2027
Prieto Laura (Colombia)
Master student 2024-2026
Alumni doctoral graduates
Aginta Harry (Indonesia)
PhD in International Development 2023
Chen Yilin (China)
PhD in International Development 2025
Kpoviessi Othniel (Benin)
PhD in Inteenational Development 2023
Alumni doctoral graduates (sub advisor)
Hua Zheng (China)
PhD in International Development 2025
Phommachanh Nilaphy (Laos)
PhD in International Development 2025
Wenxuan Yang (China)
PhD in International Development 2023
Alumni master graduates
He Du (China)
Master in International Development 2025
He Yuxing (China)
Master in International Development 2023
Hua Zhenxiong (China)
Master in International Development 2022
Kimura Yuka (Japan)
Master in International Development 2022
Li Jiaqi (China)
Master in International Development 2022
Li Xiaomeng (China)
Master in International Development 2025
Lopez Manuel (Chile)
Master in International Development 2025
Miranti Cani (Indonesia)
Master in International Development 2020
Najorn Wilaiporn (Thailand)
Master in International Development 2025
Pei Yiruo (China)
Master in International Development 2023
Peralta Hendrix (Dominican Republic)
Master in International Development 2025
Salamanca Sayuri (Colombia)
Master in International Development 2023
Santos-Marquez Felipe (Colombia)
Master in International Development 2020
SookYan Siew (Malaysia)
Master in International Development 2021
Swasdibutra Thaya (Thailand)
Master in International Development 2023
Tunyathip Saengsuwan(Thailand)
Master in International Development 2023
Utami Balqis (Indonesia)
Master in International Development 2022
Alumni master graduates (sub advisor)
Chung Trinh Thi (Vietnam)
Master in International Development 2022
Tutorials
Discover and execute more tutorials HERE.
Computational data science notebooks to foster development studies.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of mean luminosity using the DMSP-like data over the 1992-2019 period.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of luminosity-based GDP over the 1992-2019 period.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of mean luminosity using the VIIRS-like data over the 1992-2023 period.
An introduction to heterogeneous treatment effects using the two-stage DID estimator of Gardner (2021)
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of nighttime lights using VIIRS-annual data.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of nighttime lights using VIIRS-like data.
An interactive geocomputational notebook to study spatial clusters and outliers
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of nighttime lights using DMSP-corrected data.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of nighttime lights using DMSP-extended data.
An interactive exploration of the space-time dynamics of nighttime lights using DMSP-like data.
A geocomputational notebook to study spatial heterogeneity using the GWR and MGWR frameworks.
An introduction to how to construct, explore, and export spatial connectivity structures (W) using Python.
An introduction to cross-sectional spatial regression analysis in Stata
An introduction to spatial regression analysis for panel data in Stata
A geocomputational notebook to monitor subnational human development using Python. Besides exploratory data analysis, the notebook introduces geospatial mapping, spatial dependence, and spatial inequality.
The book provides a succinct review of the recent club convergence literature, a comparative view of developed and developing countries, and a tutorial on how to implement the club convergence framework in Stata and R.
An introduction to difference in differences with multiple time periods and staggered treatment adoption.
An introduction to difference in differences with multiple time periods and staggered treatment adoption.
Spatial inequality dynamics
A geocomputational notebook to monitor spatial inequality dynamics.
A geocomputational notebook to monitor regional development in Bolivia using Python. Besides exploratory data analysis, the notebook introduces geospatial mapping, spatial dependence, spatial inequality, and spatial heterogeneity.
An introduction to the Solow growth model and its convergence prediction
Theresa Graefe (Ulm University) has created a very nice RTutor that allows you to replicate the main results of a recent AEJ paper on the causal effects of a CO2 tax in Sweden using the syntetic control method.
An introduction to the basic differences in differences method using the classical incenerator example of Kiel and McClain (1995)
This method constructs a synthetic control unit as a weighted average of available control units that best approximate the relevant characteristics of the treated unit prior to treatment.
Measuring the evolution of spatial dependence and spatial inequality
Events
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Contact
- +81 052 789 4345
- Furocho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, JAPAN 464-8601
- Enter the building of the Graduate School of International Development and turn right to Office 111 on the 1st Floor
- Office hours: Tuesdays 17:00 to 18:30 (Book an appointment first)
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- carlos [at] gsid.nagoya-u.ac.jp