Florian LEON

Florian LEON is a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI) and an associate member at the Cerdi Center for Studies and Research on International Development. His academic work focuses on the intersection of business dynamics, financial markets, and development economics, with particular expertise in African economies and recent expansion into digital infrastructure impacts in developed contexts.

Dr. Leon's research spans several critical areas in development economics:

• Dynamics and financing of businesses in Africa
• African financial markets, including competition and the emergence of pan-African banks
• Interactions between formal banking systems and microfinance institutions
• Business growth trajectories in relation to financing constraints
• Resilience of businesses in risky environments and following economic shocks
• Policy impacts on firm behavior in both developing and developed economies

His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong research trajectory examining election impacts on firm dynamics, monetary policy transmission in developing countries, and the effects of development finance initiatives on banking systems. Dr. Leon employs rigorous empirical methods including difference-in-difference designs and firm-level analysis to draw causal inferences about economic phenomena across diverse contexts.

Dr. Leon has established himself through multiple publications in reputable journals and research outlets. His habilitation thesis 'Private Sector Development in Africa: Financial Constraints and Political Instability' (2023) synthesizes his contributions to understanding how businesses navigate challenging environments in Africa.

As a Research Fellow at FERDI, Dr. Leon contributes to the foundation's mission of providing research-based insights for international development policy. His work effectively bridges academic rigor with practical policy relevance, particularly for business environment improvement and financial sector development in Africa, while also contributing to technology policy discussions through his French broadband research.