Location
Lima, Peru
John Barraza
I'm
Passionate about understanding economic inequalities and using data-driven insights to contribute to evidence-based policy solutions.
Get to Know Me
Passionate About Understanding Economic Realities
Welcome! My name is John Barraza, and I am currently a Economics student at the Universidad del Pacífico.
My connection to economics began at a young age during trips to the interior of the country to visit my grandmother. I vividly recall observing disparities in how children played, the resources they had, and the educational infraestructure they encountered. Critically, I recognized that this difference wasn't solely between Lima (the capital) and the provinces; it was also visible within Lima itself.
This realization of socioeconomic disparity caught my curiosity and remained a persistent question throughout my secondary education. As I began investigating how to understand this complex issue, I realized that Economics was the precise field that offered the tools and frameworks I needed to explore and address this question of regional and local inequality.
15+
Research Projects
4+
Years of Study
Top 1/3
Academic Standing
Specialization
Economics & Finance
Experience Level
Junior Professional
Education
Economics, Universidad del Pacífico(Perú)
Languages
English, Spanish
Completed Courses
GitHub Projects
Research Projects
Books Read
Hard Skills
Technical skills and tools that I use for economic analysis and research
Statistical & Econometric Tools
STATA
75%Econometric modeling, regression analysis, and panel data techniques
R / RStudio
70%Data visualization with ggplot2, statistical analysis, and data manipulation with tidyverse
Python
70%Data analysis with pandas, numpy, and scikit-learn for economic modeling
Data & Visualization
SQL
65%Database querying and management for economic data analysis
Excel / Power BI
80%Advanced Excel functions, pivot tables, and interactive dashboards
LaTeX
60%Academic writing and mathematical notation for research papers
Soft Skills
Interpersonal and professional competencies developed through academic and work experiences
Communication & Collaboration
Teamwork
85%Collaborative work in academic projects and research teams
Written Communication
80%Clear articulation of economic concepts in reports and research papers
Presentation Skills
75%Effective delivery of research findings and economic analysis
Analytical & Problem-Solving
Critical Thinking
85%Evaluation of economic policies and identification of causal relationships
Research & Analysis
80%Data-driven research methodology and quantitative analysis
Adaptability
75%Quick learning of new tools and adjustment to diverse work environments
Resume
Comprehensive overview of my academic background, professional experience, and key competencies in economics and data analysis.
Professional Summary
Economics student with strong analytical skills and passion for understanding socioeconomic inequalities. Experienced in data analysis, econometric modeling, and behavioral economics research.
Contact Information
- johnbarraza39+contact@gmail.com
- in/john-barraza-ratachi
Key Competencies
Econometric Analysis
75%
Data Visualization
80%
Economic Research
75%
Statistical Modeling
70%
Programming & Tools
Python
70%
R / RStudio
70%
STATA
75%
SQL
65%
Excel / Power BI
80%
LaTeX
60%
Professional Experience
RA on Behavioral Economics
2025 - Present
BEX Consulting.
- Conduct behavioral economics research and experimental design
- Analyze survey data and implement econometric models
- Support development of evidence-based policy recommendations
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on research projects
Data Analyst
Jan 2024 - Dec 2024
CAPUP.
- Processed and analyzed economic data from national surveys
- Created data visualizations and dashboards for stakeholder presentations
- Conducted literature reviews on economic development topics
- Contributed to technical reports and policy briefs
Education
Bachelor of Economics
2021 - Present
Universidad del Pacífico
Top Third.
Certifications
Google Data Analytics
2025
Extracurricular Activities
HR Director
Jan. 2024 - Dec. 2024
CAPUP - Universidad del Pacífico
- Reduced member turnover by 20% through retention and training strategies
- Led full recruitment and selection cycle
Volunteer Member
2024 - Present
Acción Sostenible (ACSOS)
- Development of sustainability projects in schools and university campus
Event Organizer
2024 - Present
Hanyu Club (HANYU)
- Management and organization of cultural events with over 50 attendees on average
Volunteer
2024
Debate UP
- Logistics coordination for university-level event with over 100 participants
Research
Current research projects, publications, and areas of academic interest in economics
Current Research
Heterogeneous Agent Model with Endogenous Labor Supply in Two Sectors
Status: In Progress | Type: Bachelor's Thesis
Computational Economics Heterogeneous AgentsExtension of the Aiyagari (1994) framework to a continuous-time setting with endogenous labor supply decisions across two economic sectors, applied to the Peruvian economy. Building on the methodology developed by Achdou et al. (2021) in "Income and Wealth Distribution in Macroeconomics: A Continuous-Time Approach," this research employs their novel numerical methods to solve heterogeneous agent models with incomplete markets. The model analyzes how agents make optimal savings and labor allocation decisions across sectors, examining implications for wealth inequality, sectoral employment dynamics, and aggregate economic outcomes in dual-sector economies.
Methods: Continuous-time Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations, Finite difference methods (Achdou et al., 2021), MATLAB/Python implementation
Research Interests
Areas of economic research that drive my academic curiosity and professional development
Development Economics
Exploring the economic factors that drive poverty reduction and inclusive growth in developing countries. Focus on understanding barriers to development and designing evidence-based policies.
Income Inequality
Analyzing the causes and consequences of income and wealth inequality. Investigating how economic policies and institutional factors shape distributional outcomes in Latin America.
Behavioral Economics
Understanding how cognitive biases and psychological factors influence economic decision-making. Designing nudges and interventions to improve welfare outcomes.
Applied Econometrics
Applying advanced statistical methods to answer causal questions in economics. Specializing in panel data analysis, difference-in-differences, and regression discontinuity designs.
Labor Economics
Examining labor market dynamics, employment outcomes, and human capital formation. Interested in education returns, skills mismatch, and informal employment in emerging economies.
Public Economics
Studying the role of government in the economy through taxation, public spending, and social programs. Focus on policy evaluation and fiscal sustainability in developing contexts.
Recommended Readings
Essential books and papers that have shaped my understanding of economics and inequality
Currently Reading
Currently Reading
Causal Inference
The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect
Explains correlation (patterns) and causality (why things happen) with DAGs (Directed Acyclic Graphs), and it's a call to action to answer "why" questions rather than just find patterns. Essential reading for understanding causal inference and the ladder of causation.
Recommended Books
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Behavioral EconomicsA comprehensive exploration of the two systems that drive human decision-making. Essential for understanding cognitive biases and how they affect economic choices and policy design.
The Economics of Inequality
InequalityA concise introduction to the main concepts and theories of economic inequality. Provides clear analytical tools for understanding income and wealth distribution.
Why Nations Fail
InstitutionsExplores the role of political and economic institutions in determining national prosperity. Argues that inclusive institutions are key to long-term economic success.
Freakonomics
Behavioral EconomicsUses economic theory to explore unconventional questions about everyday life. Demonstrates how economic thinking can reveal hidden patterns and incentives in social behavior.
Best Things First
Development EconomicsEvidence-based analysis of the world's best policies to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals. Working with over 100 top economists, Lomborg identifies cost-effective solutions to global challenges including poverty, hunger, climate change, and education.
Projects
Data science and economic research projects showcasing analytical skills and programming expertise
MATLAB • Research
In Progress
Heterogeneous Agent Model - Bachelor's Thesis
Extension of the Aiyagari (1994) framework to continuous-time with endogenous labor supply across two sectors. Using finite difference methods (Achdou et al., 2021) to analyze wealth inequality and sectoral employment dynamics in the Peruvian economy.
MATLAB
Computational Economics
View on GitHub
Python • Data Analysis
In Progress
ENAHO Indicadores Dashboard
Interactive dashboard for visualizing key socioeconomic indicators from Peru's National Household Survey (ENAHO). Includes poverty rates, employment statistics, and income distribution metrics.
Python
Pandas
Plotly
View on GitHub
Python • Experimental Economics
Completed
Cooperation Game Experiment (E2Lab)
Capstone project for E2Lab training program. Designed and programmed an economic experiment using oTree to analyze consumption vs. savings behavior under different information treatments. Organized by E2LabUP (U. del Pacífico), LEEX (PUCP), and CREE (U. de Piura).
Python
oTree
HTML
Favorite Courses
Academic courses that have significantly shaped my understanding of economics and data analysis
Econometrics
Advanced econometric techniques including panel data, instrumental variables, and time series analysis. This course provided the statistical foundation for rigorous causal inference.
Universidad del Pacífico
Professor: Pablo Lavado & Pia Basurto
Behavioral Economics
Study of psychological biases and heuristics affecting economic decisions. Application of insights from psychology to design better policies and nudges.
On my own
Social Policy Analysis and Diagnosis Tools
Analysis of government intervention in the economy through taxation and public expenditure. Focus on welfare economics and optimal policy design in developing contexts.
Universidad del Pacífico
Professor: Omar Narrea
Macroeconomics II & III
In-depth study of macroeconomic theory and policy. Topics include economic growth, business cycles, and monetary and fiscal policy in open economies.
Universidad del Pacífico
Professor: Gonzalo Llosa & Luis E. Castillo
Causal Inference and Machine Learning
Advanced course on causal inference using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. Covers modern methods for estimating causal effects in observational data with practical applications in Python, Julia and R. Lasso, Ridge, NN
Volunteering & Social Impact
Contributing to social causes and community development through volunteer work
CAPUP - Universidad del Pacífico
PastRole: HR Director
January 2024 - December 2024
CAPUP is a non-profit organization that promotes art within the university community. As HR Director, I led talent management strategies and organizational development.
- Reduced member turnover by 20% through retention, training and professional development strategies
- Led the full recruitment and selection cycle, improving profile fit to organizational needs
Acción Sostenible (ACSOS)
ActiveRole: Volunteer Member
2024 - Present
Organization focused on promoting environmental sustainability and ecological awareness in educational institutions and the university community.
- Development of sustainability projects in schools and university campus
- Implementation of environmental awareness initiatives
Hanyu Club (HANYU)
ActiveRole: Event Organizer
2024 - Present
Cultural club dedicated to promoting and spreading Chinese culture on university campus through cultural events and educational activities.
- Management and organization of cultural events about Chinese culture
- Achieved average attendance of over 50 people per event
Debate UP
PastRole: Volunteer
2024
University academic debate event that brings together students from various universities to compete in structured debates on current topics.
- Logistics coordination of university-level debate event
- Successful management of event with over 100 participants
Committed to using economic knowledge and analytical skills to create positive social impact and contribute to community development.
Contact
Feel free to reach out for collaboration opportunities, research inquiries, or just to connect!
Contact Info
I'm always interested in connecting with fellow researchers, potential collaborators, and anyone passionate about economics and data science.
Email Address
johnbarraza39+contact@gmail.com
Get In Touch
Have a question or want to work together? Send me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.