Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Professor Hurbert Schmitz is a development economist with 30 years of experience in research, teaching and advisory work. His areas of specialisation are industrialisation and employment, outsourcing for development, the changing organisation of the global knowledge economy, and the politics of investment and growth. He is Professorial Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies and adviser to bilateral and multilateral development agencies on industrial policy, cooperation of public and private sectors, and interventions for strengthening competitiveness and job creation. His current research is concerned with shifts in innovation power from West to East and shifts from high to low carbon growth. He has published widely in development journals and is known for succinct synthesis of policy research. He has a long track record in managing international research teams and integrating competences across disciplines.

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• Challenging the Investment Climate Paradigm: Governance and Growth in Vietnam
• The Politics of Investment and Growth
• The Impact of Emerging Power: China-EU Cooperation and Global Governance
• Technological Trajectories for Climate Change Mitigation in China, Europe and India

Thematic Expertise

Asian Drivers; Innovation and Value Chains; Governance.

Selected Publications »»

• Abdel-Latif, A. and Schmitz, H. (2011) 'The Politics of Investment and Growth in Egypt: Experimenting with a New Approach', Development Policy Review 29.4:433-58
• Abdel-Latif, A. and Schmitz, H. (2010) 'Growth Alliances: Insights from Egypt', Business and Politics 12.4:Article 4
• Schmitz, H. and Strambach, S. (2009) 'The Organisational Decomposition of Innovation and Global Distribution of Innovative Activities', International Journal of Technological Innovation, Learning and Development 2.4:231-49
• Harris, D., Moore, M. and Schmitz, H. (2009) 'Country Classifications for a Changing World', IDS Working Paper 326, Brighton: IDS
• Humphrey, J. and Schmitz, H. (2008) 'China - Growth Engine or Obstacle for Asian Developing Economies?', Zeitschrift fur Wirtschaftsgeographie 52.1:50-66
• Schmitz, H. and Messer, D. (eds) (2008) 'Poor and Powerful - the Rise of China and India and its Implications for Europe', German Development Institute Discussion Paper 2008.13, Bonn: Deutsches Institut fur Entwicklungspolitik
• Moore, M. and Schmitz, H. (2008) 'Idealism, Realism and the Investment Climate in Developing Countries', IDS Working Paper 307, Brighton: IDS
• Schmitz, H., Altenburg, T. and Stamm, A. (2008) 'Breakthrough? China's and India's Transition from Production to Innovation', World Development 36.2:325-44
• Schmitz, H. (2007) 'Reducing Complexity in the Industrial Policy Debate', Development Policy Review 25.4:417-28
• Schmitz, H. (2007) 'The Rise of the East: What Does it Mean for Development Studies', IDS Bulletin 38.2:51-58
• Schmitz, H. (2006) 'Learning and Earning in Global Garment and Footwear Chains', The European Journal of Development Research 18.4:546-71
• Schmitz, H. (2005) Value Chain Analysis for Policy Makers and Practitioners, International Labour Office, Geneva
• Schmitz, H. (2004) Local Enterprises in the Global Economy: Issues of Governance and Upgrading, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
• McCormick, D. and Schmitz, H. (2002) 'Manual for Value Chain Research on Homeworkers in the Garment Industry' , Brighton: IDS
• Humphrey, J. and Schmitz, H. (2002) 'How Does Insertion in Global Value Chains Affect Upgrading in Industrial Clusters?', Regional Studies 36.9