Santiago Sanchez-Pages

Interests

My research lies at the intersection of political economy, behavioural economics and experimental methods. I study how individuals and groups make strategic decisions.

A central theme of my work is conflict, including political violence, inequality and bargaining. Much of my research combines theory with laboratory and data evidence (see my research page).

I work across disciplines and draw on ideas from political science, psychology and biology. This has led me to study cooperation, deception, social identity and gender differences in behaviour.

I also engage in public outreach. I am one of the editors of the Spanish economics policy blog Nada es Gratis, I have appeared in media and share lectures and talks on my YouTube channel.

More recently, I have developed work on the relationship between economics and culture. I have written about Economics and Cinema and I am currently writing The Spice Must Flow: Economics and Science Fiction, forthcoming from Edward Elgar. I am also a 2026–27 Digital Futures Institute Education Fellow at King's College London, developing a project on economics and science fiction.