Meet the Harvard CID faculty affiliates advancing research in trade, growth, and regional economics to uncover how economies develop, diversify, and thrive in a globalized world.
International trade shapes the global economy—driving innovation, expanding markets, and fostering regional development.
Yet the benefits of trade are often unevenly distributed, with certain sectors, regions, and populations facing disproportionate challenges or being left behind by globalization. At CID, our research in trade, growth, and regional economics explores how trade policies impact economic growth, competitiveness, and local livelihoods.
Faculty affiliates from across Harvard analyze global trade flows, regional disparities, and the complex dynamics of market access, tariffs, and economic integration. From examining supply chain disruptions and technology transfer to assessing the local effects of trade agreements, CID researchers are generating evidence-based insights to inform more inclusive and sustainable economic development.
CID Faculty Affiliates Uncovering New Insights in Trade, Growth, & Regional Economics
Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Galen L. Stone Professor of International Trade, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Economics, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Dani Rodrik
Dani Rodrik
Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard Kennedy School
Jie Bai
Jie Bai
Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Featured Research on Trade, Growth, & Regional Economics
CID faculty research insights look at publications by Harvard faculty that have shaped current understanding of trade, growth, and regional economics. These summaries distill complex findings into accessible takeaways for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers.
CID Faculty Publications
Explore the latest research from CID faculty affiliates on trade, growth, and regional economics, examining how countries and regions can foster sustainable development through global integration, structural transformation, and productivity gains. These publications offer data-driven analysis on topics such as trade policy, industrialization, regional inequality, and economic diversification to support inclusive growth and effective development strategies.
Foreign Competition and Innovation
Foreign Competition and Innovation
Foreign competition can both spur and stifle domestic innovation. In a new model, high-productivity firms may invest more in R&D when facing trade pressure, while low-productivity ones may pull back—explaining why global trade shocks affect countries differently.
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Exports in Disguise: Trade Re-Routing During the U.S.-China Trade War
Exports in Disguise: Trade Re-Routing During the U.S.-China Trade War
Origin-specific tariffs are a common policy tool; however, critics claim that such tariffs are often circumvented by rerouting goods through intermediary countries. This study examines whether rerouting increased due to the 2018-2019 U.S.–China trade war via Vietnam.
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The Inverted U-Shaped Relationship between Female Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
The Inverted U-Shaped Relationship between Female Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
In 114 countries, women’s entrepreneurship follows an inverted U-shaped pattern—rising with income, then falling. Female-led firms tend to be smaller, less complex, and concentrated in retail. The rate is highest where gender gaps narrow but business complexity remains low.
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Explore research from CID faculty affiliates uncovering how trade, growth, and regional economics shape global markets, development, and community prosperity.