Biography

Gustavo Castro is a Visiting Scholar at the Urban Economics Lab, Center for Real Estate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP), where he is also a member of the Regional and Urban Economics Lab (NEREUS). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP) and an MBA in Finance and Controllership from USP/ESALQ.

His research lies at the intersection of urban economics, regional science, and  causal inference, with a particular focus on how urban form, climate shocks, migration, infrastructure, and public policies shape productivity, housing markets, accessibility, and long-run economic development. His work primarily examines emerging economies, especially Brazil, while contributing to broader debates in urban and regional economics.

Methodologically, his research combines causal inference, spatial econometrics, machine learning, and large-scale administrative and geospatial data. His empirical work employs modern econometric methods, including difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, event-study designs, and spatial models, to identify causal relationships and evaluate the effectiveness of public policies.

Alongside his academic research, he has extensive experience collaborating with public agencies and private organizations on economic and financial modeling, particularly for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure concessions. His professional work includes economic impact assessment, financial feasibility analysis, and the design of strategies for economic and financial rebalancing.

He is a member of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), the Brazilian Econometric Society (SBE), and the Brazilian Regional Science Association (ABER). He also serves as a referee for academic journals, including Regional Science Policy & Practice, Estudos Econômicos, and the Revista Brasileira de Estudos Regionais e Urbanos.