Horst Raff

Professor Horst Raff is a distinguished economist at the University of Kiel, where he serves as Head of Chair in the Department of Economics within the School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. With a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario (1991), he has established himself as a leading scholar in international trade, foreign direct investment, and industrial organization, particularly focusing on the intersection of retail markets and globalization.

Professor Raff's research interests span international trade theory and empirics, foreign direct investment, supply chain management, retail market structure, tax competition, and economic policy. His work bridges theoretical modeling with empirical analysis, often using firm-level and micro data to investigate how globalization affects firm behavior and market outcomes. He has made significant contributions to understanding how inventory management affects supply chains, how foreign ownership influences trade patterns, and how tax policies affect international investment decisions.

His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with numerous articles in top economics journals including Journal of International Economics, The World Economy, Canadian Journal of Economics, and Management Science. His recent work focuses on supply chain dynamics, inventory management, and the bullwhip effect, showing his ability to evolve his research agenda while maintaining connections to his core interests in international trade and industrial organization.

Professor Raff maintains an active research program with frequent collaborations, particularly with Nicolas Schmitt, Michael Ryan, Frank Stähler, and Joachim Wagner. His work has established him among the top 5% of authors according to multiple bibliometric criteria including number of works and co-authorship network measures.

As Head of Chair, he oversees academic activities in his department while continuing his research program and mentoring junior colleagues. His work has significant policy relevance for understanding international trade dynamics, the effects of globalization on retail markets, and optimal tax policy in a globalized economy.