Rate My Professor Paulo Santos

Paulo Santos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics within Monash Business School at Monash University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economics and sociology, as well as economics and natural resource management, with a focus on understanding why poverty persists. He notes that more than 70% of differences in income or life expectancy across the world arise from circumstances beyond individual control, such as birthplace or parental wealth. Santos seeks to comprehend why these disparities endure and identify effective interventions. As an economist, he examines how markets form, how agents address trust and asymmetric information issues, and the role of social networks in embedding economic relations—a concept drawn from sociology and anthropology. His work explores how social context shapes transaction costs, enables economic functioning, and influences market depth and inclusiveness. Additionally, he investigates identity and discrimination as explanations for persistent poverty. On the natural resources side, Santos studies land use changes, deforestation, water management, and technology adoption, which are critical for economic participation in developing countries and key areas for policy intervention requiring dialogue with non-social scientists.