Stephanie Rickard

Professor Rickard is a Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics. Her expertise lies at the intersection of politics and international economics. For over 15 years, she has researched issues related to the international political economy, including trade agreements, industrial policy and international financial rescues.

In her award-winning, Cambridge University Press book, Spending to Win, she investigates countries' economic policies and international economic relations, focusing specific attention on subsidies and industrial policy. She examines the incentives governments have to provide subsidies to business. Based on interviews with government ministers and public officials, as well as parliamentary records, and new quantitative data, she demonstrates how economic geography in combination with political institutions shapes representation and economic policy.

In addition to academic research, Professor Rickard has been engaged in policy debates, for example, in collaboration with the European Central Bank. She has also appeared in front of the House of Commons Public Bill Committee scrutinizing the UK Governments’ Subsidy Control Bill. Drawing on evidence from her book Spending to Win, she offered examples of best practice for the management of government-funded subsidies.

She also comments in the media on current events in the global economy including tariffs, industrial policy, Brexit, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. She has been interviewed by various outlets including the BBC and Bloomberg and have appeared on BBC’s flagship Radio 4 Today program.