Erica Pani

Erica Pani is an Assistant Professor (Education) of Local Economic Development and Planning at the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She directs the MSc Local Economic Development program and focuses on equitable economic systems, urban planning, and climate adaptation. Her research employs a heterodox approach to challenge traditional economic frameworks.

Education: PhD in Economic Geography from Queen Mary, University of London (2016). Joined LSE in 2019 after roles at Queen Mary and Newcastle University.

Research Interests: Value theory in political economy, land tenure regularization in Dar es Salaam, and the intersection of urban planning with social justice. Her work emphasizes inclusive urban spaces and equitable economic structures. Recent projects include analyzing climate adaptation justice in Tanzania and racial dynamics in public safety in Milan.

Awards: 2016 Royal Geographic Society Best PhD in UK Economic Geography Research Group for her work on neoliberalization and higher education marketization.

Teaching: Prioritizes interactive, transformative education in economic geography and research methods. Collaborates with LSE’s Regional and Urban Planning Studies Programme (RUPS) on value-driven planning frameworks.

Key Collaborations: Works with RUPS and Economic Geography teams on land tenure in Dar es Salaam and informal institutions’ impact on urban development.