Abelardo De Anda Casas awarded Edgeworth prize for outstanding DPhil thesis in Economics

Congratulations to Abelardo De Anda Casas, who has been awarded the Edgeworth Prize for an outstanding DPhil thesis in Economics for his thesis, Essays in Political Economy.

Abelardo's thesis comprises three independent chapters in the field of political economy.

The first chapter examines whether politicians can use direct communication with citizens to consolidate their power. Focusing on Hugo Chávez's Aló Presidente radio broadcasts in Venezuela, it explores the political influence of this direct communication channel.

The second chapter investigates the lasting impact of colonial enslavement on contemporary political preferences in Venezuela. Its findings distinguish between place-based and mobile mechanisms of historical persistence, offer a historical explanation for factors contributing to the rise of Chavismo, and demonstrate the enduring legacy of enslavement, even in peripheral regions of the former colonial empire.

The third chapter evaluates a package of policies introduced by the state government of Coahuila, Mexico, in 2013 to reduce the presence of drug cartels. It asks whether restoring peace generated measurable economic benefits.

Commenting on the award Abelardo said:

I am honoured to have been awarded the Edgeworth Prize. It is humbling to be among the great economists that have been past recipients of this award. I am deeply grateful to my supervisors, committee, research groups, peers, friends and family for their endless support during my years as a DPhil student.

Abelardo holds a Bachelor in Economics and Finance from ITESM (Mexico), an MPhil in Economics (St Catherine’s College), and a DPhil in Economics (St Hugh’s College). He is currently a Research Fellow in Economics at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge.