My name is Carlos Javier Serrano Mejias, I was born in Vilanova i La Geltru (Barcelona). When I was 22 I changed my residence from Les Roquetes (Sant Pere de Ribes) to London. During my first year in London I was visiting the Department of Economics at Universtity College London (UCL) as a Socrates-ENTER student. After finishing my degree simultaneously at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and at UCL, I decided to continue studying at UCL taking  the MSc in Economics. 

In September 2000 I started the PhD in Economics at the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities (Minneapolis, USA)

Since August 2002 I am also affiliated to the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

I have previously being Teaching Assistant, and Instructor for the Economics Department at the University of Minnesota (from September of 2001 until December of 2002). I taught Principles of Microeconomics, Money and Banking. In addition, I was Guest Lecturer in Principles of Macroeconomics focusing on "Unemployment in Europe" (September 2001 until June 2004).

In January 2003, I started working as a Research Analyst in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. I maintain and ran a model which forecasts economic indicators used for the FOMC and Board of Directors briefings.

I will be joining the Department of Economics at the University of Toronto in Summer 2005. I expect to complete my Ph.D. in Economics by Summer 2005.

My research interests are in: industrial organization, applied microeconomics, technological change and applied econometrics. The title of my PhD dissertation is "The Market for Intellectual Property: Evidence from the Transfer of Patents".

Opera, Classical Music, Theater and Ballet:

My first opera was Madam Butterfly (Puccini). I saw it at the English National Opera (ENO), in London. I really enjoyed it. Since then I have fallen in love with Puccini. The latest operas that I have seen are Traviata (ENO, London) (99), Tosca (99) (Royal Albert Hall), Madame Butterfly (Feb. 2000) (Royal Albert Hall), Turandot (2001) (Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), Ariadna auf Naxos (Nov 2002, U of M Student Opera Group), Norma (Jan 2003, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), The Flying Dutchman (Feb 2003, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), Rigoletto (Dec 2003, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), Passion (Mar 2004, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), The Magic Flute (May 2004, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Saint Paul)...

Classical Music concerts at the Barbican (London, Dec 1999): Christmas Gala Concert, Puccini Gala Night, Opera Gala Night and Tosca Centenary. Great, especially the Puccini Gala Night with Li Ping Zhang as Soprano. Carmina Burana (Fall 1999, Barbican, London). Ute Lemper & Beethoven's Fifth (Feb 2003, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ordway Center, Saint Paul), Violin Concerto (Sept 2003, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ordway Center, Saint Paul)...

The Chairs (Eugene Ionesco, Nov 2002, Guthrie Lab, Minneapolis), Hamlet (Shakespeare, Dec 2002, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minneapolis), Wintertime (Charles L. Mee, Feb 2003, Guthrie Lab, Minneapolis), Macbeth (Shakespeare, Mar 2003, Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis), The Seagull (Anton Chekhov, Mar 2003, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minneapolis), Orson Wells Rehearses Moby Dick (Jungle Theatre, June 2003, Minneapolis), Edmond (National Theatre, Sept 2003, London), Julius Caesar (Shakespeare, Mar 2004, Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis), The Ballroom (Mar 2004, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minneapolis), Endgame (Samuel Beckett, Apr 2004, Albery Theatre, London), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Sept 2004, Gielgud Theatre, London), Measure for Measure (Shakespeare, Mar 2005, Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis), Maria de Buenos Aires (Mar 2005, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minneapolis), The Notebook (Agota Kristof, Mar 2005, Guthrie Lab, Minneapolis), The Proof (Agota Kristof, Mar 2005, Guthrie Lab, Minneapolis)...

The Royal Ballet in the Royal Opera House (London, Covent Garden), Diaghilev Legacy (May 2000), very good indeed. Living Dance Studio: Report on Body (May 2003, Walker Art Center and Red Eye, Minneapolis). Transition and spontaneity on stage. I enjoyed it., Jerome Bell: The show must go on (April 2005, Walker Art Center and Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minneapolis)...

My favorite band is Dire Straits. 

My two preferred songs are: Sultans of Swing from Dire Straits, and Losing my Religion from REM.

    I would like to travel much more that I do but unfortunately I have time constraints. I like to visit places in which I can appreciate a really different culture. I like the contrasts. China, Russia, South-America are some places that I would like to visit...

During Summer 2000, when I finished my exams at UCL, I visited some place with some friends, two trips around England and Scotland. The first one was mainly England, three days. They were doing very good. We left London, we visit Stonehenge, Bath, Birmingham, the Lake District and York.

The second trip was amazing. Scotland is marvelous. 

Six days and 3200 Km. were not enough to appreciate the extremely beautiful nature of this country. We left London, we did the tour of the borders (between England and Scotland), we were in the amazing "Scott's view" (Walter Scott), after that, Durham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, The Loch Ness, dozens of Castles and abbeys destroyed by the Anglican obsession of Henry the VIIIth. Then went to the spectacular Highlands (John O'Croats, Inverness, Lake Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, ...). We also visit the Isle of Skye where we ride the famous highland ponies. Coming back we stop in Glasgow and saw the Cathedral. After six intensive days we were again in London. The trip was unforgotten, unbelievable, strongly recommended indeed.

The Chicago Weekend (Mar 2003)

A Weekend in New Orleans (May 2003)

Gooseberry Park and Duluth (North-shore Minnesota) (June 2003)

Tabernas Desert, Granada and El Turro (Spain) (Sept 2003)

A Piece of Ireland: Connemara, Achill Island and Galway (Dec 2003/Jan 2004)