Axel Berger

Axel Berger is a Senior Researcher and Deputy Director (interim) at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Bonn. He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, Economics, and Contemporary History from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and specializes in international economic governance, investment facilitation, and sustainable trade policy.

• Education: M.A. in Political Science, Economics, and Contemporary History (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

His research focuses on the interplay between international investment agreements, free trade frameworks, and global value chains (GVCs), with regional expertise in Africa and East Asia. Recent projects include developing the Investment Facilitation Index (IFI) and analyzing the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. He has contributed to policy debates on WTO reform, G20 strategies, and sustainable development in trade agreements.

Berger co-edits volumes on investment facilitation and has published extensively in journals like Journal of World Trade and World Development. He leads training programs on Global Economic Governance (MGG Academy) and collaborates with institutions such as Cambridge University Press, International Trade Centre, and German Development Institute (DIE). His work addresses climate-friendly trade policies, regulatory space in investment disputes, and post-pandemic economic recovery strategies.

He serves as a key contributor to the T20 policy briefs and G20 think tank initiatives, focusing on bridging multilateralism gaps and aligning trade/investment policies with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.