Enrico Spolaore is the Seth Merrin Chair and Professor of Economics at Tufts University. He is also a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a CESIfo Fellow. Spolaore’s main research interests are in political economy, economic growth and development, and international economics. His recent work has focused on cultural and geopolitical barriers to the diffusion of innovations and investment. His publications include the monograph The Size of Nations (with Alberto Alesina, MIT Press) and two edited volumes on Culture and Economic Growth (Edward Elgar).

Spolaore received an undergraduate degree (Laurea) in Economics and Commerce from the University of Rome, a doctoral degree (Dottorato di Ricerca) in Political Economy from the University of Siena, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. Before joining the Tufts faculty in 2004, he held faculty positions at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Ohio State University, Boston College, and Brown University. At Tufts he served as Chair of the Economics Department between 2006 and 2012.