Researchers
Coordinator
Edelmiro López Iglesias
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- edelmiro.lopez [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 881811718
Academic training
Degree in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela, obtaining the Special Award for Degree (1984).
PhD in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela, obtaining the Special Award for Doctorate (1994).
Professional career
Since 1984, he has developed his professional activity as professor in the Departament of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where nowadays (since 1996) is Associate Professor. Between 1999 and 2005 he was the Director of the Institute of Studies and Development of Galicia (IDEGA); and between August of 2005 and April of 2009 he held de post of General Director of Rural Development in the Rural Environment Departament of the Galician Goverment.
He has directed or participed in more than 30 research projects and he is author of several books, book chapters and journal articles. He realized residences in several foreign universities and research centers, and he has worked as consultant in the fields of agricultural policy and rural development for some international bodies, like the European Comission, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Institute (BID) of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
He is currently the coordinator of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC).
Members
José Caamaño Alegre
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- jose.caamano [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 881814764
Integrated in the Departament of Applied Economics, he is Contracted Professor for the Political Economy and Public Finance Area in the Faculty of Law at the University of Santiago de Compostela. His lines of research are focused in the fields of public budget; spending control; fiscal rules, discipline and transparency; financial condition; public administration; penal justice economics and methodological and philosophical aspects of economy and public administration.
Academic training
Degree in Law from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1994).
Bachelor Degree in the modality of dissertation (1996), which was realized in the Political Economy and Public Finance Area in the Faculty of Law at the Universy of Santiago de Compostela (Department of Applied Economics).
PhD in Law from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2005), with a PhD thesis realized in the Political Economy and Public Finance Area (Department of Applied Economics).
Experiencia profesional
Author of more than twenty scientific publications, he started his educational career as Part-time Professor at the Department of Applied Economics of the USC in 1997, being after grant holder of the Galician Goverment (1997-1998) and Full-time Professor in the same department (1998-2006). Since 2006, he worked as PhD Assistant Professor and, in 2008, he started to work as Contracted Professor.
In 2014 he joined the researh group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC).
María Cadaval Sampedro
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- maria.cadaval [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 881811664
María Cadaval Sampedro is a Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is an expert in fiscal federalism, decentralisation, and regional and local finance. She directs the Ibero-American Chair at USC and is the Executive Co-Director of the 2030 Urban Agenda for Santiago de Compostela. She is also the Deputy Director of RIFDE (Network of Researchers on Regional Financing and Financial Decentralisation in Spain) and a member of GEN (Governance and Economics Research Network) and the Economic Forum of Galicia.
As a researcher in the field of applied economics, her work is cross-disciplinary, integrating economic, social, and political aspects. Her most recent publications in high-impact scientific journals cover topics such as the impact of fiscal consolidation on voting intentions, political factors, extreme events and decentralisation, centrality costs in urban areas, the assessment of taxation on wind energy, and the effectiveness of the Social Electricity Voucher.
She participates as a member or principal investigator in scientific projects and contracts funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (2023–2026), the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the State Research Agency, the Regional Government of Galicia, and the Council of Audit.
In the field of knowledge transfer and public engagement, she contributes to various media outlets—radio, press, and television—to promote academic and scientific activities.
Xoaquín María Fernández Leiceaga
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- xoaquin.fernandez [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 881811574
Academic training
Degree in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1984).
PhD in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1990).
Professional career
Since 1985, he has developed his teaching activity in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where in the present (since 1992) is Associate Professor. He is the director of the Institute of Studies and Development of Galicia (IDEGA) since 2014, post that he had already held during the years 1998-1999. Throughout his career he has published more than two dozen of book chapters in several scientific works and more than 30 articles in specialized journals. Also, he was member of the Editorial Board of Urban Public Economic Review and of the Association of the Economics of Education (AEDE). He is part of the Scientific Council of the IDEGA, the European Association of Regional Science and the RIFDE (Federalism and Descentralization Researchers Net). He is also integrated in the research group GEN (UVigo), in which he developes a great part of his research activity. He is coeditor of a blog about fiscal federalism in the daily newspaper ‘Expansión’. He frequently colaborates with print media. He is member of the Galician Economic Forum.
As manager, he has experience as vice rector of Economic Affairs at the University of Santiago de Compostela (1990-1994); as Councillor of Finance and Markets (1999-2003) and, after, as Councillor of Finance, Transport and Administrative Reform (2003-2007) in the Council of Santiago de Compostela. He was also member of the administrative councils of MERCAGALICIA (1999-2007), EMUVISSA (1999-2007) and TUSSA (2003-2007). As deputy in the Galician Parliament (2005-2009 and 2009-2012), stands out his labour as Economy Spokesman of the socialist parlamentary group (2005-2009) and, after, as Spokesman of the socialist parlamentary group (2009-2010).
He is member of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC) since its creation in 2004.
Ana Isabel García Arias
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- anaisabel.garcia [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 982823226
Academic training
Degree in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1991).
Master of Arts in European Economy from the College of Europe (Belgium, 1993).
PhD in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2008).
Professional career
She is Associated Professor of University School in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. She has a large experience in university teaching on fields of environmental, forestry and agricultural economics, being the evaluation of agri-environment policy in Galicia the subject of her PhD thesis. She managed several academic works –Final Degree Project and Final Master Project- at the Higher Polytechnic School (USC Campus of Lugo) in the fields of agricultural and foresting engineerings. Also, she held several posts of academic management in that center. She is member of the Directive board of the Spanish Association of Agri-food Economics since 2008. Also, she is member of the Sustainability Commission of the Galician Food Cluster (CLUSAGA) since 2020.
As member of the research group Agrifood and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC), of which she´s been member since its creation in 2004, she participated in more than 10 research projects founding in competitive public procurements in the areas of her specialization, as well as several works derived from contracts with companies. For example, she conducted the evaluation of the effects of policy and estructural change on the territorial diversity of the livestock specializated areas; in the context of research project CAMESPA (2002-2005), founded by Ministry of Science and Education. She also contributed to analyze the role of the agriculture on the development and differentiation of the Spanish rural territories (RURAGRI, 009-2011, founded by Ministry of Science and Education).
Recently, she was envolved in the design works of the Green Infrastructure of Galicia; as well as on a collaboration agreement with the Provincial Council of Coruña for the evaluation of the expansion costs of the Velutina Wasp in honey farms. Hers main contributions are reflected in more than 20 scientific publications and the same number of participations in nacional and internacional conferences.
Santiago Lago Peñas
Full ProfessorFull Professor
- santiago.lago.penas [at] usc.es
Full Professor of Public Finance at the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Senior economist at FUNCAS, co-director of the network of researchers in regional financing and financial decentralization in Spain (RIFDE). Expert for the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Commission, the OECD, the Forum of Federations and the Assembly of European Regions, among other institutions. He has appeared in the Senate, the Congress of Deputies and the regional parliaments of Galicia, Catalonia, Madrid, Aragon and Andalusia as an expert in public finance. Director of the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Vigo (2011-2013) and founder and head of the competitive reference research group Governance and Economics research Networtk-GEN between 2014 and 2023.
Member of the Expert Commission for the Reform of Regional Financing (2017) and the Expert Committee for the Reform of the Tax System (2021-2022), both created by the Government of Spain. Permanent Academician of the RACEF and Research Medal of the Royal Galician Academy of Sciences “Domingo García Sabell Rivas” in the field of social sciences in 2024.
Director of EconLabGalicia and the Economic Forum of Galicia and coordinator of the group of experts created by the Xunta de Galicia to face the economic challenges of COVID-19. Councilor of Galician Resources. He was a member of the Economic and Social Council of Galicia (2003-2011) and president of the Accessibility Working Group of the Atlantic Transnational Network (2003-2005).
Columnist for El País/Cinco Días and the newspapers of the Prensa Ibérica group in Galicia, and regular contributor to the SER channel.
Maria do Mar Pérez Fra
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- mariadomar.perez [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 982823314
Academic training
Master in Rural Development Management from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1994).
PhD in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2003).
Professional career
She is Contracted Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). She has a large experience in the design, developing and evaluation of rural development policies. In this field, it stands out the coordination in Galicia of the Rural Development Program 2007-2013 and the elaboration of her PhD Thesis related to the analysis and evaluation of LEADER I Initiative in Galicia and North Portugal. In addition, she was the responsible of the Department of Coordination and Planning of Rural Development at the Galician Agency of Rural Development (AGADER) during de period 2005-2007.
Also, she was involved in several research projects –on the nacional and international level- and she realized teaching and researching residences at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal), the Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal), the Rural Economy Research Centre – TEAGASC (Ireland) and the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil).
He is member of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC) since its creation in 2004.
Raúl Ríos Rodríguez
Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor
- raul.rios [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 881811573
Academic training
Degree in Journalism at the University of Santiago de Compostela (2012).
Master in Economic Development and Innovation at the University of Santiago de Compostela (2013).
PhD in Regional Development and Economic Integration at the University of Santiago de Compostela (2019).
Professional career
He is research associate in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. His main lines of research involve economic journalism and media economics. His thesis deals with the media coverage of the economic crisis of 2008, focusing on the analysis of discourses legitimizing the austerity policies applied in response to the recession. He is part of the group ECOAGRASOC since 2013 as researcher in training, and since 2020 as full member.
Ibán Vázquez González
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- iban.vazquez.gonzalez [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 982823224
Academic Training
Technical Agricultural Engineer, University of Santiago de Compostela (2005).
Agronomical Engineer, University of Santiago de Compostela (2007).
Technical Engineer in Public Works, University of Santiago de Compostela (2009).
Postgraduate degree in Agri-Food Business Management at the Juana de Vega Foundation – University of A Coruña.
PhD in Engineering for Rural Development, University of Santiago de Compostela (2013).
Professional career
He is doctor assistant professor at the Higher Polytechnic School in Lugo. He trained as a researcher in the Ecoagrasoc group, being his thesis directors Francisco Sineiro and Roberto Lorenzana. After taking his doctor’s degree, he worked for almost four years at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Training (CIFA), which depends on the Regional Ministry of Rural Environment, Fishing and Food of the Government of Cantabria.
His main research lines deal with agricultural production systems, rural development, technical-economic management of farms, sustainability and improvement of production efficiency, ecosystem services and, notably, beef and milk cattle. He is the author or co-author of more than 40 scientific publications and has participated in more than 30 national and international congresses.
Luis Castañón Llamas
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- luis.castanon [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 982824407
Academic training
Degree in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1987).
PhD in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2002), with a distinction Cum Laude.
Professional career
After working for the Coruña Business Confederation (1987–1988) and for the Galician Statistics Institute (1988-1989), he started his teaching career as Full-time Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Coruña (1989-1991). Since 1991, he has developed his activitie as Full-time Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Additionally, since 2008 he teaches subjects of Economic Structure at the associated center in Lugo of the National Distance Education University (UNED).
He is member of the Scientific Council and the Editorial Board of the Institute of Studies and Development of Galicia (IDEGA) (between 1992 and 1995 and since 1998 to the present). Also, he is part of the evaluation committee of Revista Galega de Economía, the Spanish Association of Regional Economy, the World Economy Society and the Regional Studies Association.
He is member of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC) since its creation in 2004.
Francisco Sineiro García
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
Academic training
Degree on Agricultural Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid (1971).
PhD from the Technical University of Madrid (1996).
Professional career
Now retired, he was Associated Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Before, he was researcher in the field of animal production at the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA). He worked, firstly, on beef and sheepmeat production systems and, later, on dairy sector economics and agri-food industry. He was involved in more than 20 research projects and he published several articles in national and international journals, as well as several books and book charpetrs in the fields of his specialization.
As public administrator, it stands out his activiti as Territorial Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1985-1987) and, later, as Minister of Agriculture, Farming and Mounts of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (1987-1990). He was deputy of the Socialist Group at the Galician Parliament between 1989 and 2005.
He is member of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC) since its creation in 2004.
Bernardo Valdês Paços
Senior LecturerSenior Lecturer
- bernardo.valdes [at] usc.es
- Phone
- 982823225
Academic training
Degree in Economics and Business from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1992).
Professional career
He was involved in several research projects related with animal production, rural development, agricultural policy and structural change.
He is member of the research group Agri-food and Environmental Economics, Rural Development and Social Economy (ECOAGRASOC) since its creation in 2004.
Xulia Guntín Araújo
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
- xulia.guntin [at] usc.gal
Xulia Guntín Araújo is a lecturer in the Department of Quantitative Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Her research focuses on R&D&I policies and processes.
She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela and earned her PhD at the same university with the thesis “Trade and Industrial Innovation in OECD Countries: A Quantitative Analysis” (2000).
She has been a member of the ECOAGRASOC research group since 2021.