Thomas Chaney

Thomas Chaney is a Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California (USC), holding the John Elliott Chair in Economics. He is affiliated with Sciences Po’s Department of Economics and leads the ERC Project HTMG. His research focuses on International Trade, Networks, and Finance, with notable contributions to historical trade dynamics and modern financial constraints. Chaney is a CEPR and CESifo Research Fellow, reflecting his academic standing.

Research Interests: Chaney’s work bridges historical and contemporary economic phenomena, analyzing trade networks, collateral constraints in corporate finance, and the impact of migration on innovation and urban development. His research often employs innovative methodologies, such as combining archaeological data with economic models to study ancient trade systems.

Articles Trends: Recent work examines Bronze Age trade networks, modern corporate investment dynamics, and the role of real estate collateral. His 2024 articles explore ancient trade’s end and contemporary empathy’s economic implications, showcasing interdisciplinary approaches. Earlier papers like Trade, Merchants, and the Lost Cities of the Bronze Age (2019) exemplify his historical focus.

Grants & Awards: Chaney leads the ERC-funded HTMG project and holds prestigious fellowships. His work has been published in top journals and spans empirical trade analysis, financial economics, and historical methods.

Labs/Teams: Active in USC’s Economics Department and collaborates with global institutions like Sciences Po and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). His research group integrates economists, historians, and data scientists for interdisciplinary projects.