Marcelo S. O. Goncalves

I am a political economist working at the intersection of development, climate, and environmental policy. My research examines how institutions, incentives, and individual behavior shape the design, implementation, and impacts of environmental and development policies, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on political science and economics, I adopt an interdisciplinary approach to identify the conditions under which policy interventions generate durable environmental and development gains in support of sustainable development. My work combines causal inference, field experiments, and geospatial analysis to study challenges such as deforestation, climate resilience, and public service delivery.

My research agenda is informed by nearly 15 years of experience as a Specialist in Public Policy and Management (EPPGG) in the Brazilian federal government, where I contributed to numerous policy evaluations and led initiatives spanning food security, racial equity, and climate adaptation.

I am currently a PhD candidate in Public Policy at Duke University and a von der Heyden Global Fellow.

You can reach me at: ms1019@duke.edu