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Let’s talk about you: what is your background, what do you teach, and what are your research interests?
I am Luca Di Corato, a researcher in Applied Economics at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. I’m a lecturer in Industrial Economics, Economic Analysis for Business Strategies, and Economic Policy. My research revolves around applied economics, and more in particular around theories and applications of concrete options for the evaluation of economic decisions and resource-based economy. I have been studying forest preservation, optimisation of natural resources, investments in flexible production systems, and investments in renewable energy as well as international direct investments. Recently I have been focusing on auctions for allocating assets and contracts, as well as on the process of contract-drafting in a dynamic context and with incomplete information.

Tell us about your academic path.
I graduated in Economic Policy from Bocconi University of Milan, and then I earned my PhD from a joint programme between the University of Padova and York University. I spent many years in Uppsala, Sweden becoming associate professor for the Department of Economics at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In 2017 I returned to Italy and worked in Bari, then in 2018 I moved to Venice.

What has given you the greatest satisfaction in your career?
On a personal level, moving up the academic ladder, working really hard and sacrificing a lot, until I eventually managed  to get some recognition among renowned scientific journals.
When it comes to teaching, though, I only need as little as a ‘thank you’ from one of my students to feel grateful for my job.

What are you most passionate about in your field of research?
What motivates me the most is the idea that with my research and my efforts I am able to contribute, albeit in a small part, to the great work of the scientific community around me. I also research for myself out of curiosity. I focus a lot on modelling, a bit like a kid who plays around with a toy, and I sort of imagine myself as a mechanic fixing problems.