Sami Bensassi

Dr. Sami Bensassi is a Reader in Managerial Economics at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with the Birmingham Business School and the Department of Management. He serves as Head of the Business, Economics and Policy Group and is a member of the Centre for Crime, Justice and Policing. He has been at the university since January 2013 and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris-Nanterre.

• BA in Economics, Université Toulouse I
• MA in Development Economics and International Trade, Université Panthéon Sorbonne (Paris I)
• PhD in Economics, Université Paris X Nanterre

His research lies at the intersection of trade, development, and institutions, with a strong focus on informal trade, smuggling, corruption, and conflict zones. He also investigates return migration and trade-related fraud. His work combines empirical analysis with policy relevance, often drawing on data from Africa and the Middle East.

His recent publications span topics such as informal trade measurement, trade policy effectiveness, climate impacts on historical trade, and public health interventions in developing countries. These reflect a consistent interdisciplinary and policy-oriented approach, often in collaboration with international organizations.

He has received the University of Birmingham's Outstanding International Impact Award for his research on smuggling at Tunisian borders.

• Research funding from FCDO, European Union, Economic Research Forum, IFPRI
• Collaborations with World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
• Supervision of PhD and Master’s students (specific names not listed)

He is actively involved in research dissemination through his personal website, Google Scholar, and other academic platforms.