Neil Foster-McGregor joined UNU-MERIT in July 2014, and has been Deputy Director of the institute since November 2016. Neil obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Nottingham in 2001. Between 2000 and 2008 he was Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna and between 2009 and 2014 a Senior Research Economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw).

Neil’s research interests include economic growth and development, international trade and globalisation, innovation and technology transfer, and applied econometrics. Recent published research has considered, inter alia, the role of offshoring on labour markets, the impact of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs), Value Added trade and Global Value Chains (GVCs), and firm-level evidence on trade, foreign ownership and performance in sub-Saharan Africa.

	Selected publications by Neil Foster-McGregor
Articles (journal, professional, popular)
Mensah, Emmanuel Buadi, Solomon Owusu, Neil Foster-McGregor & Adam Szirmai, 2022, Structural change, productivity growth and labour market turbulence in Sub-Saharan Africa, Journal of African Economies: 1-38, DOI: 10.1093/jae/ejac010, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2021, The breadth of preferential trade agreements and the margins of exports, Review of World Economics, Online, DOI: 10.1007/s10290-021-00430-5, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Emanuele Russo, 2021, Characterizing Growth Instability: New Evidence on Unit Roots and Structural Breaks in Long Run Time Series, Journal of Evolutionary Economics
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Bart Verspagen & Önder Nomaler, 2021, Job Automation Risk, Economic Structure and Trade: A European Perspective, Research Policy
Torres Mazzi, Caio, Neil Foster-McGregor & Glaucia Estefânia de Sousa Ferreirab, 2021, Production fragmentation and upgrading opportunities for exporters: An empirical assessment of the case of Brazil, World Development, 138: 105151-, DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105151, More information
Torres Mazzi, Caio & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2021, Imported intermediates, technological capabilities and exports: Evidence from Brazilian firm-level data, Research Policy, 50(1): 104141-, DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.104141, More information
Delera, Michele & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, On PTAs and Bilateral Trade: Is GVC Trade Sensitive to the Breadth of Trade Policy Cooperation?, Economies, 8(4), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies8040084, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2019, Mini Symposium on Perspectives on Structural Change, Asian Development Review, 36(2): i-iii, DOI: 10.1162/adev_e_00138, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2019, Global Value Chains and Employment Growth in Asia, Asian Development Review, 36(2): 100-130, DOI: 10.1162/adev_a_00133, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, On the relationship between the breadth of preferential trading arrangements and trade flows, World Economy, 41(4): 1088-1110, DOI: 10.1111/twec.12618, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, North-South foreign direct investment and bilateral investment treaties, World Economy, 41(1): 2-28, DOI: 10.1111/twec.12539, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, On the Relationship between the Breadth of PTAs and Trade Flows, The World Economy, 41(4): 1088-1110, DOI: 10.1111/twec.12618, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, North-South FDI and Bilateral Investment Treaties, The World Economy, 41(1): 2-28, DOI: 10.1111/twec.12539, More information
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2017, Heterogeneous Effects of Bilateral Investment Treaties, Review of World Economics, 153(4): 631-656, DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s10290-017-0287-z, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Johannes Poeschl & Robert Stehrer, 2017, The Importance of Absorptive Capacities: Productivity Effects of International R&D Spillovers through Intermediate Inputs, Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 26(8): 719-733, DOI: doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2016.1257445, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Bart Verspagen, 2017, Decomposing Total Factor Productivity Growth in Manufacturing and Services, Asian Development Review, 34(1): 88-115, DOI: 10.1162/ADEV_a_00082, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Johannes Poeschl, 2016, Productivity Effects of Knowledge Transfers through Labour Mobility, Journal of Productivity Analysis, 46(2), DOI: 10.1007/s11123-016-0478-y
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Johannes Poeschl & Robert Stehrer, 2016, International R&D Spillovers and Business Service Innovation, The World Economy, 39(12): 2025-2045, DOI: 10.1111/twec.12379
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Johannes Poeschl & Robert Stehrer, 2016, Offshoring and the Elasticity of Labour Demand, Open Economies Review, 27(3): 515-540, DOI: 10.1007/s11079-015-9384-6
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Bart Verspagen, 2016, The Role of Structural Change in the Economic Development of Asian Economies, Asian Development Review, 33: 74-93, DOI: 10.1162/ADEV_a_00073, More information
Kaulich, Florian, Anders Isaksson & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2015, Foreign Ownership and Performance in sub-Saharan Manufacturing and Services Firms, Journal of International Development, 27: 1197-1222, DOI: 10.1002/jid.3024, More information
Kaulich, Florian, Anders Isaksson & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2015, Foreign Ownership and Labour in Sub-Saharan African Firms, African Development Review, 27(2): 130-144, DOI: 10.1111/1467-8268.12129, More information
Poeschl, Johannes & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2015, Offshoring, Inshoring and Labour Market Volatility, Asian Economic Journal, 29(2): 145-163, DOI: 10.1111/asej.12052, More information
Kaulich, Florian, Anders Isaksson & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2015, Importing, Exporting and the Productivity of Services Firms in Sub-Saharan Africa, Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, 24(4): 499-522, DOI: 10.1080/09638199.2014.926386, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Anders Isaksson & Florian Kaulich, 2014, Learning-by-exporting versus self-selection: New evidence for 19 sub-Saharan African countries, Economics Letters, 125: 212-214, DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2014.09.011, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, A. Isaksen & Florian Kaulich, 2014, Learning by Exporting versus Self-Selection: New evidence for 19 sub-Saharan African Countries, Economics Letters, 125: 212-214, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2014, Intellectual Property Rights and the Margins of International Trade, Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, 23(1): 1-30, DOI: 10.1080/09638199.2012.664556, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, A. Isaksen & Florian Kaulich, 2014, Outward Foreign Direct Investment, Exporting and Firm-Level Performance in sub-Saharan Africa, Journal of Development Studies, 50(2): 244-257, DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2013.833323, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, A. Isaksen & Florian Kaulich, 2014, Importing, Exporting and Performance in sub-Saharan African Manufacturing Firms, Review of World Economics, 150(2): 309-336, DOI: 10.1007/s10290-013-0177-y, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Robert Stehrer, 2013, Value Added Content of Trade: A Comprehensive Approach, Economics Letters, 120(2): 354-357, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & Ahmed Khalid, 2013, Trade Liberalisation and Growth: A Threshold Exploration of Channels, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 18(2): 231-253, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2013, On the Determinants of Investment in sub-Saharan African Firms, African Development Review, 25(4): 573-586, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Robert Stehrer & G. de Vries, 2013, Offshoring and the Skill Structure of Labour Demand, Review of World Economics, 149(4): 631-662, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2012, Trade Liberalisation, Economic Crises and Growth, World Development, 40(11): 2177-2193, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2012, Preferential Trade Agreements and the Margins of Imports, Open Economies Review, 23(5): 869-889, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Johannes Poeschl & Robert Stehrer, 2011, The Impact of Preferential Trade Agreements on the Margins of International Trade, Economic Systems, 35(1): 64-83, More information
Fidrmuc, Jarko, Neil Foster-McGregor & Johann Scharler, 2011, Labour Market Rigidities and International Risk Sharing Across OECD Countries, Journal of International Money and Finance, 30(4): 660-677, More information
Crespo-Cuaresma, Jesus, Neil Foster-McGregor & Robert Stehrer, 2011, Determinants of Regional Economic Growth By Quantile, Regional Studies, 45(6): 809-826, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2011, Trade, Imitative Ability and Intellectual Property Rights, Review of World Economics, 145(3): 373-404, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Robert Stehrer, 2011, Preferential Trade Agreements and the Structure of International Trade, Review of World Economics, 147(3): 385-409, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Robert Stehrer, 2009, Sectoral Productivity, Density and Agglomeration in the Wider Europe, Spatial Economic Analysis, 4(4): 377-396, More information
Crespo-Cuaresma, Jesus, Neil Foster-McGregor & Johann Scharler, 2008, Barriers to Technology Adoption, International R&D Spillovers and Growth, Economics Bulletin, 15: 1-7, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2008, The Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: Evidence from a Quantile Regression Analysis, Kyklos, 61(4): 543-567, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2007, Relative Backwardness, Absorptive Capacity and Knowledge Spillovers, Economics Letters, 97: 230-234, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil & Robert Stehrer, 2007, Modeling Transformation in CEECs using Smooth Transitions, Journal of Comparative Economics, 35(1): 57-86, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2006, Intellectual Property Rights and Economic Growth, Review of Development Economics, 10(4): 700-719, More information
Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2006, Exports, Growth and Threshold Effects in Africa, Journal of Development Studies, 42(6): 1056-1074, More information
Dulleck, Uwe, Neil Foster-McGregor, Robert Stehrer & Julia Woerz, 2005, Dimensions of Quality Upgrading – Evidence for CEECs, Economics of Transition, 13(1): 51-76, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2004, Imports, Exports, Knowledge Spillovers and Growth, Economics Letters, 85(2): 209-213, More information
Falvey, Rod, Neil Foster-McGregor & David Greenaway, 2002, North-South Trade, Knowledge Spillovers and Growth, Journal of Economic Integration, 17(4): 650-670, More information
Book chapters
Szirmai, Adam & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2021, Introduction, in: New Perspectives on Structural Change: Causes and Consequences of Structural Change in the Global Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
Owusu, Solomon, Adam Szirmai & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2021, The Rise of the Service Sector in the Global Economy, in: New Perspectives on Structural Change: Causes and Consequences of Structural Change in the Global Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
Landesmann, Michael & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2021, Trade Based Structural Change and the Role of Declining Trade Barriers, in: New Perspectives on Structural Change: Causes and Consequences of Structural Change in the Global Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
Books (monograph or edited volume)
Verspagen, Bart, Neil Foster-McGregor, Ludovico Alcorta & Adam Szirmai (eds.), 2021, New Perspectives on Structural Change: Causes and Consequences of Structural Change in the Global Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 750 pp, More information
UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Owusu, Solomon, Adam Szirmai & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, The rise of the service sector in the global economy, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2020-056
Djidonou, Gbenoukpo Robert & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, Stagnant manufacturing growth in India: The role of the informal economy, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2020-041
Gravina, Antonio Francesco & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, Automation, globalisation and relative wages: An empirical analysis of winners and losers, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2020-040
Mensah, Emmanuel Buadi, Solomon Owusu & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, Productive efficiency, technological change and catch up within Africa, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2020-033
Kaltenberg, Mary & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2020, The impact of automation on inequality across Europe, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2020-009
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Önder Nomaler & Bart Verspagen, 2019, Measuring the creation and adoption of new technologies using trade and patent data, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2019-053
Torres Mazzi, Caio & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2019, Imported intermediates, technological capabilities and exports: Evidence from Brazilian firm-level data, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2019-028
Russo, Emanuele, Neil Foster-McGregor & Bart Verspagen, 2019, Characterizing growth instability: new evidence on unit roots and structural breaks in long run time series, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2019-026
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2019, The breadth of preferential trade agreements and the margins of exports, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2019-012
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Önder Nomaler & Bart Verspagen, 2019, Job automation risk, economic structure and trade: a European perspective, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2019-011
Ndubuisi, Gideon & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, Domestic intellectual property rights protection and the margins of bilateral exports, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2018-035
Mensah, Emmanuel Buadi, Solomon Owusu, Neil Foster-McGregor & Adam Szirmai, 2018, Structural change, productivity growth and labour market turbulence in Africa, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2018-025
Calzada Olvera, Beatriz & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, What is the potential of natural resource based industrialisation in Latin America? An Input-Output analysis of the extractive sectors, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2018-015
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2017, On the relationship between the breadth of PTAs and trade flows, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2017-038
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2017, Heterogeneous effects of bilateral investment treaties, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2017-027
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Ibrahima Kaba & Adam Szirmai, 2015, Structural change and the ability to sustain growth, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2015-048
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Florian Kaulich & Robert Stehrer, 2015, Global Value Chains in Africa, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2015-024
Falvey, Rod & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2015, North-South FDI and Bilateral Investment Treaties, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2015-010
Foster-McGregor, Neil, Johannes Pöschl & Robert Stehrer, 2014, International R&D spillovers and business service innovation, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2014-080
Research reports
Verspagen, Bart, Neil Foster-McGregor & Önder Nomaler, 2021, The Greater Mekong Subregion 2030 and Beyond: Integration, Upgrading, Cities and Connectivity, While the six member countries have made impressive gains in recent decades, much remains to be done to close the gap with the world’s most advanced economies. The GMS needs to further integrate into the global economy, significantly upgrade production and exports, enable cities to be engines of growth, and improve the quality of road infrastructure and connectivity
Dietrich, Stephan, Aline Meysonnat, Victor Cebotari, Julia Reinold, Franziska Gassmann, Inez Roosen & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2018, Key Drivers of the Changing Prevalence of Child Marriage in Three Countries in South Asia, UNICEF, Kathmandu, Nepal, More information
Dietrich, S., Aline Meysonnat, Victor Cebotari, Julia Reinold, Franziska Gassmann, Inez Roosen & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2017, Key Drivers of the Changing Prevalence of Child Marriage in South Asia, Report commissioned by UNICEF/UNFPA South Asia
Conference contributions
Calzada Olvera, Beatriz & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2019, “Global value chains and employment in the mining sector”, International Input Output Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Calzada Olvera, Beatriz & Neil Foster-McGregor, 2019, “Global value chains and employment in the mining sector”, UNIDO/ESRC GPID Workshop “The Future of Work”, UNIDO Vienna, Austria