Juan F. Vargas
Carlo Alberto Chair, Collegio Carlo Alberto; Professor of Political Economy, University of Turin
Juan Vargas is Carlo Alberto Chair at the Collegio Carlo Alberto and Professor of Political Economy at the University of Turin (ESOMAS). He is also the network director of the America Latina Crime and Policy Network (AL CAPONE) of the Latin America and the Caribbean Economics Association (LACEA). He has held visiting academic positions at NYU, Harvard, and UCLA. In 2018, Juan obtained the biennial "Juan Luis Londoño Prize", awarded to the best Colombian economist under 40.
Recent work by Juan F. Vargas
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The cocaine shock that spread through global trade
Cocaine moves through the same global trade networks as legal goods, with violence rising where criminal groups fight over ports and other chokepoints.
Published 23.04.26
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Climate change, natural resources, and conflict: Navigating a complex nexus
Extreme weather and the green transition are reshaping global conflict. We summarise the evidence on this trend and explore how policy can respond.
Published 02.09.25
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How post-conflict peacebuilding improved public service delivery in Colombia
The end of guerrilla violence in Colombia reshaped the composition of healthcare workers in conflict-affected areas. Despite redistributing healthcare workers away from these areas, they maintained service quality, offering valuable insights for publ...
Published 13.06.25
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How (not) to win the war on drugs: Evidence from Colombia
Announcements of future policies can have substantial unintended consequences and caused a surge of coca production in Colombia
Published 08.06.23
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How crisis-driven migration shapes voting behaviour: Evidence from Colombia
As half a million Venezuelan refugees seek amnesty in Colombia, locals exercise their voice through voting
Published 22.04.21
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How not to build a state: Evidence from Colombia
Top-down strategies that prioritise military objectives may fail to develop, or even lead to the deterioration of, other crucial state capacities
Published 14.09.17