Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt

Prof. Dr. Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt serves as Chair of Econometrics at Humboldt University's Faculty of Economics, leading the Institute for Statistics & Econometrics since March 2024. Previously, he was Professor of Urban Economics and Land Development at the London School of Economics. Currently on sabbatical at the University of Barcelona for the winter term 2024/25, Ahlfeldt maintains active research and teaching commitments at Humboldt University. His leadership extends to editing Regional Science and Urban Economics, positioning him at the forefront of spatial economic research.

Professor Ahlfeldt's research centers on Quantitative Spatial Economics (QSE), which integrates theoretical, empirical, and computational methods to model economies as interconnected locations. His work examines how commuting, migration, and trade link spatial economies in general equilibrium, accounting for interdependencies across land, labor, and goods markets. This approach has become essential for simulating policies affecting productivity, amenities, transport accessibility, trade integration, environmental quality, and labor market efficiency. His research regularly influences policy debates and receives coverage in national and international media.

His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on spatial economic modeling, with recent work including toolkits for quantitative spatial models, analyses of skyscraper economics, and micro-geographic property price indices. Ahlfeldt's research bridges academic rigor with practical policy applications, particularly in urban and regional contexts. His articles collectively emphasize computational methods for spatial analysis, causal identification in urban settings, and the economic implications of density and transportation infrastructure.

As an educator, Ahlfeldt offers courses in Econometric Methods, Applied Econometrics, Time Series Analysis, and Quantitative Spatial Economics at both Master's and PhD levels. He co-organizes the Berlin School of Economics Quantitative Spatial Economics Research Seminar, fostering a vibrant research community in the Berlin metropolitan area. His teaching philosophy emphasizes enabling students to answer real-world questions using appropriate data and methods, with particular attention to coding and practical implementation skills.

Professor Ahlfeldt actively engages with external partners including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector entities, applying quantitative models to inform policy decisions. His expertise in causal inference allows for rigorous ex-post assessment of program effectiveness, while his spatial economic models provide valuable ex-ante policy simulation capabilities. The Chair of Econometrics under his leadership maintains strong connections with the broader academic community through initiatives like the Berlin Quantitative Spatial Economics Research Group.