RESEARCH
CERGIC's scientific activity is structured around four main research themes, reflecting the diversity and analytical rigor of the questions investigated within the center.
1. Social Cohesion
We focus on the mechanisms that generate social and economic inequalities and analyzes their consequences on individual trajectories and collective outcomes. Particular attention is paid to the role of governance structures and public policies in mitigating or exacerbating these disparities, as well as to the dynamics of violence, conflict, and social fragmentation. These questions are explored through applied economic approaches in a wide range of contexts, from high-income countries to low-income settings, allowing for a comparative perspective on the challenges of cohesion and inclusion.
2. Spatial Dynamics
We investigate how spatial dyanmics shape economic and social life. Research focuses on the determinants of neighborhood and regional trajectories, the impact of urban and territorial policies, and phenomena such as housing access, internal and international migration, and spatial inequalities. By applying microeconomic tools to spatial data, this work seeks to uncover how local conditions interact with broader economic forces in diverse national settings.
3. Information
We explore how information flows influence beliefs, social norms, and behaviors. It analyzes the role of traditional and digital media, activism, and communication platforms in shaping public discourse, political attitudes, and institutional trust. Through applied empirical methods, we ddress the functioning and regulation of information markets, and evaluates how access to, or manipulation of, information affects democratic outcomes and public policy, in a variety of socio-political environments.
4. Environment
We focus on the design, implementation, and impact evaluation of environmental and agricultural policies. Research addresses issues of sustainability, climate adaptation, and resource management, with a special interest in the ecological transition and its distributive consequences. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of environmental interventions, this line of work examines how environmental narratives and risk perceptions influence behavior. Projects within this theme are rooted in applied economics and span multiple geographic and institutional contexts, from low-income agricultural economies to advanced industrialized societies.