What are your tasks during the DEEPEN-project as a PhD candidate?
I’m part of the Spanish team, as such I focus on analyzing Spanish private pensions’ regulations and practices. One of the most stimulating activities are the meetings with the whole team. In those, I’m able to learn from more experience researchers from different fields. In the future, I will have a more active role in the quantitative phase of the project.
What was your main reason to join the DEEPEN-project?
After I finished the master in social sciences, I was looking for financial aid to continue with PhD studies. Once I heard about the DEEPEN-project, and its multidisciplinary approach, I’ve decided to apply. I have a bachelor’s degree in economics, and I haven’t done any research with qualitative tools. I strongly believe on the advantages of a mixed method approach in social science. DEEPEN allows me to explore the political economic dynamics of pension funds from a multidisciplinary perspective.
You are as a Peruvian economist the only DEEPEN-member that is from outside of Europe. What is your perspective on the different pension systems in Europe?
As a foreigner it’s very enriching to learn the regulations and practices on private pensions in a more matured context. One outstanding aspect of the project is the focus on the governance of the funds. In the past years, there has been a lot of conflict over the role and governance of private pensions in Latin-American countries like Chile and Peru.
You worked in both the private and public sector. What were the biggest differences?
As a public server, I faced more constrain in the ways I performed my work in the daily basis, I had to follow several laws and regulations in all tasks. The private sector allowed me to have a more creative approach as long as I meet the goals. Another important difference was the ultimate goal.
And then the last question: what do you hope to do after you finish your PhD?
I’ve just started the PhD and for now I’m really focus on finishing my dissertation. Then, I’m totally open to explore different job opportunities in academia or public and private sector.