Miguel Atienza - (Departamento de Economía, Universidad Católica del Norte)

Miguel Atienza is Full Professor in the Department of Economics and a researcher at the Institute of Applied Regional Economics (IDEAR) at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. His research focuses on economic geography, regional development, and the challenges facing resource-based regions. His work examines mining regions, critical minerals, entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation, global production networks, labor mobility and regional policy. Miguel holds a PhD in Economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and an MA in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex.

Por qué los mineros no viven donde está la riqueza

16 October 2026 Felipe Irarrazaval - (Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad de Chile) and Miguel Atienza - (Departamento de Economía, Universidad Católica del Norte)

Reading Time: 4 minutesAlgunas de las regiones más ricas en recursos del planeta generan enormes beneficios gracias a sus metales, pero no consiguen retener a quienes hacen posible esa riqueza. ¿Pueden las regiones mineras llegar a convertirse en un hogar?

Why mining workers won’t live where the wealth is

09 October 2026 Felipe Irarrazaval - (Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad de Chile) and Miguel Atienza - (Departamento de Economía, Universidad Católica del Norte)

Reading Time: 4 minutesSome of the most resource-rich regions on the planet – places that generate staggering wealth in metals – struggle to hold on to the people who produce it. Can mining regions become home?