He was an undergraduate at the University of Florence before taking his MSc and PhD in economics from Birkbeck College, University of London in 2011. He has held teaching and research appointments at the University of Essex, the University of Genoa and Science Po, Paris. His research fields include the economics of conflict, defence spending, political economy and the war in Afghanistan. Vincenzo has publications in among others the British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Comparative Economics, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Peace Research, Political Studies, Public Choice, Review of International Economics and World Development.