Alei Fernandes Santos

Development economist working on education, labor markets, health and productive inclusion in Brazil.

I am an Assistant Professor at the São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV-EAESP) and a member of the Rede de Economistas Pretas e Pretos. I hold a PhD in Economics from the São Paulo School of Economics (FGV-EESP), an MSc in Economics and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA).

My research is in the field of development economics, specifically addressing topics related to education, labor markets, health, and productive inclusion. I evaluate public policies in Brazil using large administrative datasets, with a recurring focus on affirmative action in higher education, child labor and intergenerational mobility, and the reach of public health and food programs.

  • Development economics
  • Economics of education
  • Labor economics
  • Health economics
  • Policy evaluation

Selected research

All research →
  • Do Disadvantaged Students Benefit from Attending Classes with More Skilled Colleagues? Evidence From a Top University in Brazil

    with Rodrigo Oliveira and Henrique Motte

    Published Labour Economics 2024

  • Bridging the Gap: Mismatch Effects and Catch-Up Dynamics in a Brazilian College Affirmative Action

    with Rodrigo Oliveira and Edson Severnini

    Published Economics of Education Review 2024

  • The Road Ahead: Anticipatory Responses to Preferential Admissions in Elite Colleges

    with Úrsula Mello and Ana Paula Melo

    Working paper 2025