Toke Aidt

Professor Toke Aidt is a Professor of Economics and Politics at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, with a distinguished career focused on Public Choice, Political Economics, and the interplay between historical and contemporary policy. His research spans democratization, corruption, political business cycles, and environmental policy, often integrating historical data with modern economic theory.

• Ph.D., University of Aarhus (1998)
• Director of Studies in Economics at Jesus College since 1998
• Editor, European Journal of Political Economy (2014-2023)
• Past-President, European Public Choice Society (2013-15)
• Current member, Syndicate of Cambridge University Press

His research connects empirical historical analysis with theoretical frameworks to study institutional development, corruption, and policy effectiveness. Recent projects include a £1 million grant on sanitation and health, and work on political consequences of debt relief.

Articles highlight his expertise in democratization processes, environmental policy under foreign influence, and the role of historical events in shaping modern institutions. Key trends include interdisciplinary analysis of political behavior, corruption mechanisms, and fiscal policy dynamics.

Scientific Awards:

• Wicksell Prize (1999)
• Pilkington Prize for Teaching Excellence (2007)
• Best Paper Award (2023)

He has supervised numerous Ph.D. students, including Laura Araújo De Freitas (Development Economics), Carles Vila Martínez (Media Economics), and Qianya Xu (Empirical Microeconomics). His teaching includes modules on political economy, public policy, and microeconomics.