He earned a Law degree from the University of Costa Rica, a Master’s degree in Economics from the National University of Costa Rica, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain).

He has had an extensive career at ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), where he has combined work on international trade, regional integration, and industrial policy, with an emphasis on value chains and their economic and social upgrading. He also has experience in the Costa Rican public sector, the Federation of Private Entities of Central America and Panama (FEDEPRICAP), and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Among his various publications are books on intellectual property and its relationship to innovation; global value chains and world trade; and, most recently, Central American integration.

His academic experience includes teaching, lectures, and research activities at institutions such as the National University of Costa Rica, the State Distance University of Costa Rica, Florida International University, the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Turin, and Loyola Andalucía University, among others.