Matias Villalba

Hello there, thank you for stopping by!

I’m a Consultant for Data Analysis in Impact Evaluations of Fiscal Programs (PEC) at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Previously, I have worked as a research assistant to Edgar Castro (George Mason University Korea), and Manuel Barron (Universidad del Pacífico).

As a researcher I have a keen interest in topics of development economics, machine learning, and political economy.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Universidad del Pacífico, where my thesis, advised by professors Alberto Chong and Edgar Castro, focused on evaluating the impact of COVID-19 policies on the efficiency of public procurement. This work was recognized and published as one of the top undergraduate theses in an annual economic research compilation by Universidad del Pacífico.

news

Jun 27, 2024	I just created my personal website!

selected publications

FEUP

The Effect of Public Procurement Flexibilization on its Efficiency: Evidence from the Peruvian Case during the Pandemic

M. Villalba

In Applied Economics: Economic Research Essays 2023 , Lima, Peru, 2025

Abs PDF Slides

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Peruvian government facilitated the acquisition of goods and services through direct contracting. This method allows officials to select suppliers without the need for a public auction. However, the impact of this increased discretion in contracting is not certain. On one hand, direct contracting could increase the risk of corruption due to a lack of transparency and reduced oversight in the supplier selection process, fostering an environment for improper practices such as favoritism, nepotism, or even embezzlement of public funds. On the other hand, this method could also lead to greater efficiency in contracting processes, as it allows for faster decision-making and simplifies complicated procedures, which could result in cost reductions. Based on unit prices and the frequency of accurate reporting of unit prices, our findings indicate that the net effect of greater discretion is positive. This leads us to question the necessity of complex regulations that restrict bureaucratic discretion and suggests that, in many cases, the benefits of simplicity in contracting could outweigh its costs.