Research
Research
I am currently pursuing a PhD under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network in Explainable and Trustworthy AI (X-TWINS), based at University of Naples Federico II. My research sits at the intersection of AI ethics, sustainable finance, and human-centered design.
Specifically, my work explores how explainable AI (XAI) methods can be adapted to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders in financial systems, including investors, regulators, and citizens, with an emphasis on audience-dependent explanations. Rather than focusing solely on technical model interpretability, my research considers how financial AI systems can communicate why decisions are made in ways that are meaningful, trustworthy, and aligned with social and environmental values.
The project combines:
Qualitative interviews and surveys with finance professionals and citizens,
Psychometric modeling (e.g., Item Response Theory) to analyze preferences,
and theoretical frameworks from human computer-interaction, responsible innovation, ecological economics, and critical data studies.
The goal is to contribute to the development of context-aware, socially grounded XAI systems that support better decision-making in green finance and ESG investing.
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After a period of field work in Kenya for two months with Grassroots Economics, Patricia wrote a master's thesis on the digitalization and blockchain integration to support indigenous mutual credit traditions, with a particular emphasis on the Sarafu Network in Kenya. The research explored the impacts of transitioning community inclusion currencies from paper to digital formats, and their role in fostering economic resilience and community development. The work involves engaging with local communities, conducting participatory workshops, and analyzing data to understand the dynamics of alternative currency systems in promoting sustainable livelihoods.
This work is forthcoming in the International Journal of Community Currency Research.
Patricia Marcella Evite
February 2024
This paper critically examines Neil Fligstein's theory of markets as presented in The Architecture of Markets through contemporary issues and heterodox economics perspectives. Fligstein posits that markets are social structures shaped by dominant actors, with rules governing property rights, governance structures, exchange, and control. Applying his theory to the COVID-19 crisis reveals limitations in capturing endogenous market dynamics and addressing global health inequities. Integration with heterodox economics, particularly post-Keynesian theory, highlights parallels in understanding firm behavior and market competition. Fligstein's work offers insights into redefining economic justice and advocating for alternative economic policies.
Patricia Marcella Evite and Rashid Zara
December 2023
This paper delves into the neocolonial dynamics within carbon offset markets, examining the disparities between the Global North and the Global South. While carbon offsets gain attention for addressing emissions and supporting environmental efforts, this study highlights the dominance of the Global North in offset purchases, often exerting control over the resources of the Global South. The demand-side dynamics, influenced by factors such as reputation, corporate values, and cost-effectiveness, largely originate from the Global North, impacting countries like Europe, the United States, and Japan. On the supply side, the Global South becomes an attractive location for carbon offset projects due to ample reduction opportunities and lower implementation costs, raising concerns about the violation of rights for indigenous groups and communities. The paper emphasizes the need for regulations in the voluntary carbon market to ensure environmental and social justice, suggesting that robust oversight is essential for carbon offsets' ethical and sustainable implementation.
Patricia Marcella Evite
June 2018
The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) asserts that the information is rapidly incorporated in asset prices in efficient markets. This hypothesis was originally applied in stock prices but was adopted in literature to foreign exchange and commodity markets as well. In 2008, Bitcoin was invented and although it was designed as an alternative for money, it behaves more like an investment. This study investigated whether the EMH holds true for this particular cryptocurrency market.
Fama (1970) identified three different forms of the hypothesis in order to see which subset of information will the hypothesis break down – weak (historical data); semi-strong (public information) and strong (private information). This research tested for the first two using tests for predictability of returns (Ljung-Box and Augmented-Dickey Fuller tests) and event response test with a constant-mean-return model, respectively. It adds to the existing literature by using a new method and a careful selection of events under semi-strong conditions. The findings indicated that the Bitcoin market is inefficient from 2010-2017. The results of the thesis are deemed relevant for both small and large-scale Bitcoin investors because it has implications for the reliability of trading strategies.