Prof. Francesco Aiello is an applied economist with broad research interests in microeconomics analyses, international trade and evidence-based policy formulation. He has been visiting researcher at the University of Essex, the University of Reading, Copenaghen Business School, FAO, EU Commission (DG Development), University of Siirt, University of London and at the Université Paris Nanterre.

In August 2015, Prof. Aiello launched OpenCalabria.com, a website focusing on the Italian regional divide. He is Editor in Chief of Regional Economy, the online journal managed by OpenCalabria.

Currently, much of his research focuses on the innovation-productivity nexus and on efficiency analysis. He has published widely in many Italian journals and in several leading international journals. Prof. Aiello is also author of about 180 short papers to disseminate economic knowledge to a more general audience rather than only to specialists.

He has been scientific coordinator (or member) of research programs funded by EU Commission, Italian Ministry of Research and by Regione Calabria. Aiello also served as referee for many economic journals and as consultant for several national and international organizations and private companies.