David Castells-Quintana
Professeur invité à Sciences Po Aix pour le printemps 2023, David Castells-Quitana revient sur son parcours ainsi que son expérience dans notre École.
Can you, quickly, present yourself ?
I am David Castells-Quintana, PhD in Economics by the Universidad de Barcelona (UB). I currently work as Lecturer Professor at the Department of Applied Economics of the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB). I also collaborate with several universities in Spain and worldwide, including Paris-1 and Sciences Po Aix here in France. I teach several courses in Economics, including Econometrics, International Economics and Development Economics, a course that I am currently teaching here in Sciences Po Aix. In terms of research, I focus on Economic Growth and Development, Inequality, Economic Geography and Urban Economics.
Can you present UAB University ?
UAB is one of the largest universities in Spain and in Europe. We are also usually ranked as the best university in Spain! We have a big campus just outside Barcelona, where we have several different faculties and where we host thousands of students from all over Spain and the world.
How did you get so involved in the economic topics and teaching those specific topics ?
I always felt passionate about Economics since I started my university studies. With time, I specialized in development economics, a field where I do most of my teaching and research. Today, in the 21st century, millions of people still live in extreme poverty and hunger, struggling to survive, while many others enjoy incredible levels of wealth. Understanding this persistence of poverty and these huge inequalities is, for me, a matter of the outmost relevance.
Can you let us know what you have enjoyed during your Sciences Po Aix experience this month ?
Aix, and Provence in general, is a place that I love. The atmosphere, culture, natural environment, food… are all amazing. People are also very nice. Despite being relatively small, you also have a rich academic environment, including Sciences Po Aix, and of course the connection with Marseille. One particular thing that is very interesting of Sciences Po Aix is the multidisciplinary approach, which enriches both students and professors alike. I also got the chance to practice my French a bit, and I hope to come back soon.