My research interest is to offer evidence for policymakers and insights for the public debate. If we create policies oriented to enhance inclusion and opportunities, we would build more cohesive and stable societies. For this reason, I like projects focused on assessing and describing policies.
Currently, my research interest is focused on the future of work and how we build more resilient societies after disasters. The labor market is suffering big changes, so there is the need to reshape labor institutions to improve labor rights: As labor conditions improve, living standards will increase. I hope that my work can contribute to it.
My research is the result of my participation in the different projects that I have been involved.
Work in Progress 2023-2025
“Struggles of the Invisible: Migrant Workers and Legal Protections in Latin America's Food Delivery Platforms” for the book “The Global Platform Economy and the Local Conditioning of Algorithmic Work” edited by Andrew B. Wolf (Cornell University, ILR School) and Maria Figueroa (SUNY Empire State College) (Submitted in March 2024, Accepted December 2024).
Working paper: “Has the Productivity-Wage Relationship Broken Down in Latin America?” with Luis Chanci (Universidad Santo Tomás) and Ramón Pineda (ECLAC).
Articles
Wolf, A.B., Coelho-Lima, F., Keppler, I.L.d.S., Ferreira, M.d.S., Dall'Asta, C., Florez, M.E.R. and Figueroa, M. (2025), ‘Be Your Own Boss?’ Explaining Variation in Worker Response to the Gig Economy's Ideology in the Global North and South. Br J Ind Relat.. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjir.12887
Rodriguez-Florez, M. E. (2020). Trade Mechanisms as a Way to Improve Labor Rights Compliance and Its Policies. A Case Study from The United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement. E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies, 9(2).
Rodríguez Florez, M. E. (2021). Reflections behind the process of filing of the submission within the framework of the labor chapter between the United States and Peru. Revista Laborem No. 24/2021. (in Spanish).
Books' Chapters
Vandaele, K., & Rainone, S. (Eds.). (2025). The Elgar Companion to Regulating Platform Work. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Chapter 12: Challenges in advocating recognition and protection among delivery platform workers across the Americas: cases from Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the US with María Figueroa and María Eugenia Rodríguez. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035321148
Larrañaga Osvaldo, and María Eugenia Rodríguez (2016): “Middle Classes and Education in Latin America” in Foxley Alejandro and Barbara Stallings (eds): Innovation and inclusion in Latin America. Studies of the Americas. Palgrave Macmillan US. (in English). ISBN: Nº 978-1-137-59681-9.
Larrañaga Osvaldo, Mariana Huepe and María Eugenia Rodríguez (2015). “Solidarity Pension: Analysis of a Successful Reform”, in Larrañaga Osvaldo and Dante Contreras (eds): The New Politics of Social Protection in Chile, UQBAR y PNUD, Santiago de Chile. (in Spanish). ISBN: Nº 978-956-9171-54-3.
Larrañaga Osvaldo and María Eugenia Rodríguez (2015): “Income Inequality and Poverty in Chile 1990-2013”, in Larrañaga Osvaldo and Dante Contreras (eds): The New Politics of Social Protection in Chile, UQBAR y PNUD, Santiago de Chile. (in Spanish). ISBN: Nº 978-956-9171-54-3.
Larrañaga Osvaldo and María Eugenia Rodríguez (2014): “Education and Middle Classes” in Foxley Alejandro and Barbara Stallings (eds): Latin American Economies How to move beyond Median Income. CIEPLAN, Santiago de Chile y Center for Latin American & Latino Studies American University, Washington DC. (in Spanish). ISBN: Nº 978-956-204-044-0.
Policy Briefs
¿Shall we create a system of norms against the cybercrime? (Editor: Andrés Gómez-Lobo) No. 16 – October 2013. School of Economic and Business, University of Chile. (in Spanish).
The legalization of marijuana as a policy option (Editor: Prof. Andrés Gómez-Lobo) – No. 17 - October 2013. School of Economic and Business. University of Chile. (in Spanish).
Costs of the Reform of the Education System in Chile. Prepared by: Heidi Berner, Andrés Gómez-Lobo, Daniel Hojman, Oscar Landerretche Alejandro Micco, María Eugenia Rodríguez and Juan Pablo Valenzuela. No. 9 - September. 2011. School of Economic and Business. University of Chile. (in Spanish).
Working Papers (not published)
Bello, Omar and María Eugenia Rodríguez (2015). “The Fall of Female Labor Participation Rate in Venezuela, 2003-2010”. (in Spanish).
Rodriguez, María Eugenia (2014). Social Security in Venezuela, 2000-2013. (in Spanish).
Conference Papers, Panels, and others
Discussant. "Padilla-Perez, Ramon, and Francisco G. Villarreal. "Structural change and productivity growth in Mexico, 1990–2014." Structural change and economic dynamics 41 (2017): 53-63." in "Empleo, Cambio Estructural, Asignación de Factores e Informalidad en América Latina y El Caribe" Workshop. ECLAC. Santiago de Chile, June 15-16, 2023. (Spanish)
Panelist. “Work remotely post Covid. Which are its implications for labor rights?” University of Chile, School of Business and Economics. Santiago, Chile. September 8th, 2020. (Spanish)
Presenter. “Trade Mechanisms as a way to Improve Labor Rights Compliance and its Policies. Case Study: Submission under the labor chapter of the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the U.S.–Textile sector.” 2020 Research Symposium - Latin American Studies Program (LASP) at Cornell University. Feb. 14 & 15, 2020. (English)
Participation in Technical Reports
ILR Ithaca Co-Lab (2023), “A LIVING WAGE FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY? Report: Tompkins County Living Wage Working Group Feasibility Study.”
O. Bello and L. Peralta (coords.), “Use of the damage and loss assessment methodology to estimate the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID 19) pandemic”, Project Documents, (LC/TS.2022/110), Santiago, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 2022.
O. Bello and L. Peralta (coords5.), “Use of the damage and loss assessment methodology to estimate the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID 19) pandemic”, Project Documents, (LC/TS.2022/110), Santiago, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 2022.
O. Bello y L. Peralta (coords.), “Evaluación de los efectos e impactos de la pandemia de COVID-19 en los sectores del turismo y el comercio de Panamá: aplicación de la metodología de evaluación de daños y pérdidas (DaLA)”, Documentos de Proyectos LC/TS.2022/117, Santiago, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), 2022.
Bello, Omar, et al. “Assessment of the Effects and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Bahamas.” Inter American Development Bank and Economic Commission for Latin America and The Caribbean, 2022.
Evaluación de los efectos e impactos de la tormenta tropical Eta y el huracán Iota en Honduras / Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. P. cm. — (Nota técnica del BID; 2168)
O. Bello y L. Peralta (coords.), Evaluación de los efectos e impactos de las depresiones tropicales Eta y Iota en Guatemala (LC/TS.2021/21), Santiago, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), 2021.