I am a political economy scholar focused on the environment and climate change. My research centers on two critical questions:
- Under what political and institutional conditions do elections motivate politicians to implement stronger environmental policies?
- What constrains voters from prioritizing environmental and climate change issues in their political behavior?
Most of my research focuses on Brazil, and other Latin American countries. Through quantitative analysis and field research, I explore how political competition, institutions, and voter preferences interact to shape environmental outcomes in emerging democracies.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford Department of Politics and International Relations, as well as a fellow at Nuffield College. I work on the Climate Vulnerability Project led by Professor Federica Genovese.
In December 2023, I received my Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. From March to December 2022, I was a Fulbright Award recipient to Brazil, where I did expert interviews and other fieldwork for my dissertation in Brasília and the Amazon basin.
Find me on Bluesky: @acalacino.bsky.social