Álvaro
economist manager professor researcher university dean
Álvaro Zerda Sarmiento was born in Bogotá, Colombia, on April 1, 1953. His parents were Isabel and Eduardo. He developed a professional career in Colombia combining economics, business administration, university teaching, economic research, and academic management.
Zerda Sarmiento studied business administration at the Escuela de Administración de Negocios, completing his degree in 1978. He earned an economics degree from the Universidad Central in 1984, followed by a master's degree in economics from the National University of Colombia in 1987. He completed a doctorate in economic sciences at the National University of Colombia in 2003. His academic preparation connected business management with economic analysis and later supported his research and teaching on industrial development, technology, employment, economic policy, intellectual property, and higher education.
Zerda Sarmiento began his professional career as a manager at Dep+ from 1976 to 1985. He subsequently taught at the Universidad Piloto de Colombia from 1986 to 1987 and at the Escuela Superior de Administración Pública in Bogotá from 1987 to 1988. At the National University of Colombia, he served as vice-dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences from 1988 to 1991, became an associate professor in 1991, and worked as a researcher from 1984 onward. Between 1993 and 1997 he coordinated the area of business development at the university's Centre for Development Research. In 1996 he delivered training courses for personnel of Colombia's Ministry of Labour and Social Security on productivity in the public sector, commerce, and small and medium-sized industry. He directed the School of Economics from 2004 to 2006 and served as dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences from 2006 to 2008. His academic work has addressed economic development, industrial policy, internationalization, technological change, employment, intellectual property, health economics, and the financing and organization of higher education. He has also directed the Editorial Centre of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and contributed essays and public commentary on technology, labour, education, and economic policy.
Served as dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the National University of Colombia from 2006 to 2008.
Directed the School of Economics of the National University of Colombia from 2004 to 2006.
Contributed to Colombian economic scholarship through research and publications on economic development, industrial policy, technological change, employment, intellectual property, and higher education.
(Co-authored economic study examining national accounts, p...)
1989(Book based on Zerda Sarmiento's doctoral research on inte...)
2003(Work addressing the situation and policy challenges of sm...)
(Study of economic opening, technological change, and empl...)
1992(Essay examining the communication of economic knowledge a...)
2016(Policy analysis of science, technology, innovation, indus...)
(Edited volume on higher education, sustainability, financ...)
2009His published work and public interventions examine economic development, industrial and technological policy, employment, intellectual property, social inequality, and the relationship between economic organization and the distribution of knowledge and resources.
Zerda Sarmiento has been associated with the Pharmaceutical Research Institute—Ifarma, the Centre for International Economics, the Association of Health Economists, and the Colombian Academy of Economic Sciences.
His documented family connections include his mother, Isabel, and his father, Eduardo. Professionally, he has been associated with the National University of Colombia's Faculty of Economic Sciences, its Centre for Development Research, and its Editorial Centre.
