about me

I am a Assistant Professor at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia.

Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Associate at Princeton University (RPDE). I have a PhD from UC Berkeley and a BA in Economics from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia).

My research interests are in political economy, development economics and behavioral economics.

(CV) • miguel.ortiz@ubc.ca

working papers

Hate, Fear and Intergroup Conflict: Experimental Evidence from Nigeria
(July 2025)
• Winner of the Weiss Family Distinguished Paper at NEUDC 2023
• Covered in: VoxDev, Marginal Revolution

publications

Monopoly of Taxation Without a Monopoly of Violence: The Weak State’s Trade-Offs from Taxation
with Soeren Henn, Mastaki Mugaruka, Raul S. dela Sierra and David Q. Wu
(Review of Economic Studies, 2024)

work in progress

Intergroup Integration Through Local Markets: Evidence from an RCT in Nigeria
with Eunice B. Atajiri (fieldwork ongoing)

Ethiopian Factory: The Effect of Managerial Practices of Chinese Firms on Ethiopian Workers
with Shibiru Ayalew and David Q. Wu (full funding secured)