Luisa Blanco is an economist specializing in economic development and international economics, with a focus on improving the well-being of Latin Americans both domestically and abroad. Blanco’s research specific to the Latin American region explores institutions, democracy, crime, capital flows, inequality, and natural resources, and has been published in leading journals such as World Development and the Journal of Development Studies. She also leads community-based research projects that promote economic inclusion and improved health outcomes, often using digital technology to increase access to information and encourage behavioral change. She is co-director of the Analysis Core at the University of California, Los Angeles’ Center for Health Innovation and Maximizing Eldercare, a National Bureau of Economic Research research affiliate, G53 Financial Literacy and Personal Finance Research Network research associate, and a 2025 research fellow at the Julian Bond Institute. Blanco has held visiting appointments with the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Oxford University, and has been a consultant for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of Oklahoma.