We are delighted to welcome Miguel Díaz-Martínez, Senior Advisor at the Colombian National Planning Department (DNP), to the University of Bath as a new Institute for Policy Research Visiting Policy Fellow.
Miguel advises the Colombia’s Minister of Transport and Director of the DNP on the oversight and financial structuring of mass transit systems. He also serves as lead technical advisor to the DNP Director on the board of the Bogotá Metro. During his time at the University, he will work closely with Dr Charles Larkin (Director of Research, Institute for Policy Research) and Professor Phil Tomlinson (Professor of Industrial Strategy and Regional Development, School of Management).
Miguel will deliver a seminar on 19 May: ‘Discretionary policy flexibility in infrastructure contracts: A comparative analysis of solvency in emerging markets.’ In this, he will speak about a natural experiment currently underway in Colombia, comparing two bus-based mass transit systems operating under identical national regulation but with different fates: Bogotá’s SITP (successfully restructured) and Bucaramanga’s Metrolínea (liquidated). Drawing on exclusive access to confidential data and government minutes, his analysis opens the ‘black box’ of decision-making to find the specific governance tipping points where contract adherence becomes a liability. His findings offer critical lessons for UK and European policymakers on designing resilience into public-private partnerships. Register for the webinar on Zoom or book to attend in-person by emailing Professor Tomlinson P.R.Tomlinson@bath.ac.uk.
On the appointment, Dr Larkin said: “Dr Díaz-Martínez’s insights into the creation of more effective contracting models for the delivery of vital public services is a wonderful example of the nexus between research and policy improving the lives of citizens. I look forward to working with Dr Díaz-Martínez and adapting the success in Colombia to a UK context.”
Miguel is visiting the University from 15 to 29 May. To arrange to meet with Miguel, please contact Claudia Torres-Cervantes, IPR Co-ordinator: ctc46@bath.ac.uk