Hugo Diaz, Ph.D., is an economist at The Buckeye Institute, where he conducts original research and economic modeling on tax policy and on how tax and spending decisions affect businesses, families, jobs, the economy, and state revenues.

Diaz holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, where his dissertation examined campaign contributions and political competition in his native Colombia, linking multiple government databases to study how political connections influenced the awarding of public contracts. Diaz also holds a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University and in international relations from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.

Before his doctoral studies, Diaz spent more than a decade teaching and in academic leadership roles at several universities in Colombia, where he taught courses in international business and foreign affairs and oversaw academic programs and staff.

Outside of work, Diaz plays soccer, rides road bikes, and enjoys spending time with his family and dog.