Interests

Finance and Economic Development  - Financial markets in developing countries; Microfinance and rural finance; Economic development & dynamics of poverty; Trade & financial policy and regulation

Biographical Info

Gonzalez-Vega is Director of the department 's Rural Finance Program. Over four decades, the program has been a world leader in the analysis and promotion of rural financial markets in developing countries and economies in transition. It currently involves four faculty members, one research specialists and about 15 graduate students. Gonzalez-Vega 's recent research includes the development of financial technologies to reach marginal clientele; comparison of formal and informal financial transactions; the state 's role in financial market development; and regulation and supervision of financial intermediaries. He has examined the outreach and sustainability or rural and microfinance programs; the behavior of financial institutions where clients are the owners; and the regulation of non-bank intermediaries. He also studies interactions between financial, labor and land markets and their impact on rural poverty and natural resource degradation, complemented by research on policy reform, political economy and macroeconomic management in small open economies. Recent projects include work in Central America, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.Gonzalez-Vega 's recent research includes the development of financial technologies for marginal clientele; comparison of formal and informal financial transactions; the state 's role in financial market development; and regulation and supervision of financial intermediaries. He has examined the outreach and sustainability or rural and microfinance programs; the behavior of financial institutions where clients are the owners; and the regulation of nonbank intermediaries. He also studies interactions between financial, labor and land markets - complemented by research on policy reform, political economy and macroeconomic management in small open economies. Recent projects include work in Central America, Bolivia and Russia.