José Luis Cortez Flores, a graduate in economics from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), was announced as the first-place winner of the “Concurso de Investigaciones Culminadas para Jóvenes” (CICJ) organized by the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), according to an April 27 statement. His study, titled “Economic inequality and climate vulnerability: The effect of El Niño events on income and gender, ethnic-racial, and generational inequalities in northern coastal Peru,” earned him this recognition.
The competition is aimed at young people under 30 years old. Cortez Flores, who is 26, competed against other graduates from universities across Lima and other regions. The award highlights the academic quality provided by UNMSM in training its students. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos leads public universities in rankings from QS, Scimago, and Webometrics according to the official website.
Cortez Flores’s research describes how El Niño negatively affects incomes in northern coastal regions such as Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, and La Libertad. He said that not all populations are affected equally; existing inequalities are made worse by these events. “This topic is very relevant in the current context because climate change is intensifying in Peru and its effects impact not only infrastructure but also employment, income, and quality of life,” said Cortez Flores after noting that the 2017 El Niño event had more severe impacts than that of 2015.
The study found that women, indigenous populations, and vulnerable groups suffer greater losses mainly through reduced employment opportunities. “Based on the analysis it is evident that women and ethnic-racial groups face greater losses mainly through employment,” he said.
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos operates as an autonomous public entity recognized by Peru’s constitution according to its official website. It offers a range of undergraduate programs—81 total—as well as postgraduate options while supporting research activities and community outreach according to university information. The university promotes cultural well-being with initiatives for responsibility, equity, inclusion, and sustainable development as stated on its website.
After receiving his prize from MIDIS Minister Lily Norka Vásquez Dávila at a ceremony held at University of Piura’s Lima campus on April 24th—where winners were awarded diplomas along with books from partner institutions—Cortez Flores reflected: “Participating in this contest was a very rewarding experience. Beyond personal recognition what matters most is that this research can help improve decision-making so academic evidence engages with public policy for national benefit.”
Looking ahead he encouraged others: “I would tell other young people to keep their commitment to their country—to be observant and curious because often great research comes from simple questions.” Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos remains dedicated to advancing education dissemination alongside national sustainable development goals according to university sources.
