Biography

I am an Economist with a master’s in Economics and a Ph.D. in Public Policy, specializing in Science and Technology Policy. My research explores how policy, incentives, and social networks shape the scientific and technological outcomes of researchers and inventors, as well as their economic and social impacts—particularly in artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. A key aspect of my work involves leveraging frontier large language models to extract and analyze value promises in patent text, examining their role in patent drafting, prosecution, valuation, and technological orientation. Current projects in this space include an analysis of state policy advisory networks in autonomous vehicles and a study on organizational differences in AI research focus between corporate and academic institutions, examining implications of corporate dominance in US AI basic research.

I am currently a Research Fellow at the Inter-American Development Bank, where I work on a complementary research agenda examining the drivers of business innovation and its impacts. For example, I have studied how industrial policies, market competition, and taxation influence firms’ innovation activities and outcomes such as productivity, exports, and tax contributions.

My skill set includes quantitative methods (e.g., causal inference, machine learning, text mining, computational social network analysis) and qualitative approaches (e.g., interviews, focus groups), along with strong presentation skills for diverse audiences.

I have taught introductory economics courses for undergraduate and graduate students for eight semesters at Universidad Nacional de Colombia (15’ and 16’) and Universidad del Rosario (17’, 18’, 19’, 20’).

Email: spelaez3@gatech.edu

Research

Peer-reviewed

Pelaez, S., & Gutierrez, J. D. (2025). The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning Cartels on Market Competition. Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, 25(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10842-025-00446-9

Pelaez, S., Verma, G., Ribeiro, B., & Shapira, P. (2024). Large-scale text analysis using generative language models: A case study in discovering public value expressions in AI patents. Quantitative Science Studies, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00285

Pelaez, S., Hurtado, B., & Avila-Maecha, J. (2024). Taxation and innovation: evidence from Colombia. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 33(1), 166-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2022.2145560

Pelaez, S., Youtie, J., & Shapira, P. (2022). Analyzing research outcomes and spillovers at a US nanotechnology user facility. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 24(12), 243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-022-05601-5

Pelaez, S. (2018). Ciclo de recursos naturales y politica fiscal bajo preferencias inconsistentes. Coyuntura Economica. 48(1 y 2) Junio-Diciembre, pp. 13-78. http://hdl.handle.net/11445/3844

Preprints/Working papers

Pelaez, S., Verma, G., Ribeiro, B., & Shapira, P. Do Societal Promises Influence Patent Value? An Analysis of Inventions in Artificial Intelligence? Under Review at Research Policy Available at SSRN 4873074: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4873074

Pelaez, S., & Hicks, D. (2024). Are Societal Promises in Science and Technology Substantiated? The Case of Value Expressions in Patents Under Review at Research Policy Available at SSRN 4941820: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4941820

Pelaez, S. (2024). Exporting Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS): Innovation and Complementary Factors. Available at SSRN 4799870: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4799870

Work in progress

Pelaez, S. The Fiscal Returns of Industrial.

Pelaez, S., Walsh, J., Jeongyoon, J ., Lee, Y., & Ceccagnoli, M. “Rethinking University Invention Disclosures: Does More Mean Better?”

Hicks, D., Gupta, N., Pelaez, S., & Kingsley, G. “The Structure of State Policy Advisory Networks: Evidence from U.S. Autonomous Vehicle Reports.”

Pelaez, S., Widmaier, K., Sugimoto, C. “Industry Set to Outperform Universities in Basic Research”

Cazor, A., Calvo, S., Goni, E., Pelaez, S. “What Sustains Productivity in Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)?”

Aparicio, G., Gerardino, M. P., Goni, E., Pelaez, S., Rosas, D., Tuesta, H. “How effective are business training programs for entrepreneurs of necessity-driven startups? An RCT of Fondoempleo’s Entrepreneurship Program”