Marcela Aguilar

Hello! I’m Marcela, an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. I received my Ph.D. in Business Accounting from Rice University. My research focuses on the role of accounting in informal economies, entrepreneurship, and development.

My work is informed by my experience collaborating with the International Labour Organization in Central America and the Caribbean. I am especially interested in how accounting information, financial recordkeeping, and emerging technologies can support microenterprises and small businesses in developing economies.

I’m passionate about using research to address real-world challenges. Over the years, I have contributed to projects related to policy development, microenterprise growth, labor markets, and education, collaborating with agencies of the United Nations and national institutions.

I also co-founded and co-organize the Accounting & Development Forum (ADF) and the Accounting & Finance Field Experiments community (AFFE). Together, these initiatives host webinars and in-person conferences that provide a platform for sharing early-stage and more developed work on accounting and development, with a particular focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Outside of work, I enjoy chess and have had the honor of being a National Female Chess Champion of El Salvador. I also love traveling and learning from new cultures.

Thank you for visiting my site!