I am a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Chicago Energy & Environment Lab and will transition to a Research Affiliate role at the same Lab in 2026.   

I am an environmental economist using observational data, causal inference methods, and field interventions to evaluate policy effectiveness, understand how policies shape environmental—and, in many cases, development—outcomes, and analyze policy designs that can strengthen their impact.

My current work spans technology adoption, water access and use across diverse settings, and behavioral responses to policies aimed at reducing pollution. 

I hold a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Environmental Economics from CIDE, and a B.A. in Economics from UNAM. 

My full name is Javier Alejandro López Aguilar. As is common in Spanish-speaking countries, I have two first names (Javier and Alejandro) and two last names (López and Aguilar).  My last names may be hyphenated or written separately, but they should not be used individually.