Lucio Picci is a professor of economics at the University of Bologna, holding a PhD from the University of California, San Diego. He has extensively published in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Research Policy, The Review of Economics and Statistics, and The World Bank Economic Review.

His book titled "Reputation-based Governance" (Stanford University Press, 2011) proposes a model of public governance reliant on strong reputational incentives.

His new book, "Rethinking Corruption" (Cambridge University Press, 2024), examines case studies from Brazil, Russia, and the United States, offering a fresh perspective on corruption and anti-corruption studies.

Over the years, he has worked or consulted for international organizations such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations, and various branches of the Italian government, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Italian Anti-Corruption Authority