Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Professor John Humphrey is a sociologist with special interests in global value chains and their impact on agricultural and industrial development. His recent research has focused on agribusiness and the growing importance of standards upon production and trade in horticulture and seafood.

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• Rising Powers in International Development
• Academic Partnership in Support of Teaching Development Aid Curriculum in Russia
• China's Private Sector Investment and the Investment Climate in Africa
• European Development Co-operation to 2020
• Analysing the Effects from Non Tariff Measures (NTM) in the Global Agri-Food Trade
• The Impact of Emerging Power: China-EU Cooperation and Global Governance
• Partnering for Better Food

Thematic Expertise

Agriculture; Financial Crisis; Globalisation; Asian Drivers; Industry; Trade.

Geographic Expertise

East Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea); Sub Saharan Africa; Brazil; China; Kenya.

Selected Publications »»

• Sturgeon, T., Humphrey, J. and Gereffi, G. (2011) 'Making the Global Supply Base' in Hamilton, G.G., Petrovic, M. and Senauer, B. (eds), The Market Makers: How Retailers are Reshaping the Global Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Humphrey, J. (2010) 'European Development Cooperation in a Changing World: Rising Powers and Global Challenges after the Financial Crisis' , Working Paper No 8, EDC2020
• Henson, S. and Humphrey, J. (2010) 'Understanding the Complexities of Private Standards in Global Agri-Food Chains as They Impact Developing Countries', Journal of Development Studies 46.9:1628-46
• Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) 'Value Chains, Donor Interventions and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice', IDS Research Report 63, Brighton: IDS
• Henson, S. and Humphrey, J. (2009) 'The Impacts of Private Food Safety Standards on the Food Chain and on Public Standard-Setting Processes' , Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, Codex Alimentarius Commission, ALINORM 09/32/9D-Part II
• Grimm, S., Humphrey, J., Lundsgaarde, E. and John de Sousa, S.-L. (2009) 'European Development Cooperation to 2020: Challenges by New Actors in International Development' , EDC2020 Working Paper 4, EDC2020
• Humphrey, J. and Schmitz, H. (2008) 'Inter-firm Relationships in Global Value Chains: Trends in Chain Governance and Their Policy Implications', International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development 1.3:258-82
• Humphrey, J. and Schmitz, H. (2008) 'China - Growth Engine or Obstacle for Asian Developing Economies?', Zeitschrift fur Wirtschaftsgeographie 52.1:50-66
• Humphrey, J. (2008) 'Private Standards, Small Farmers and Donor Policy: EUREPGAP in Kenya', IDS Working Paper 308, Brighton: IDS
• Gu, J., Humphrey, J. and Messner, D. (2008) 'Global Governance and Developing Countries: The Implications of the Rise of China', World Development 36.2:274-92
• Humphrey, J. and Schmitz, H. (2007) 'China: Its Impact on the Developing Asian Economics', IDS Working Paper 295, Brighton: IDS
• Humphrey, J. (2007) 'The Supermarket Revolution in Developing Countries: Tidal Wave or Tough Competitive Struggle?', Journal of Economic Geography 7.3:433-50
• Gu, J. and Humphrey, J. (2006) 'The Impact of Africa on China' , African Economic Research Consortium publications
• Humphrey, J. (2006) 'Horticulture: Responding to the Challenges of Poverty Reduction and Global Competition', Acta Horticulturae 699:19-41
• Humphrey, J. (2006) 'Policy Implications of Trends in Agribusiness Value Chains', European Journal of Development Research 18.4:572-92