Néstor Castañeda is an Associate Professor of Latin American Political Economy and Director of the UCL Institute of the Americas. His research focuses on the politics of inequality and redistribution in developing economies, particularly on improving taxation systems to make them more efficient and equitable. He also examines the structural and political drivers behind the persistence of inequality in Latin America. Beyond these core areas, his work has addressed a range of issues, including the global effects of economic growth on voter turnout, political participation in Latin America, China’s economic influence in the region, and racial disparities in healthcare access in the United States. He is currently involved in an EPSRC-funded project to develop an international network focused on the responsible use of AI in government and industry across Latin America. Dr. Castañeda holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh, an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a BA in Economics from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.