Kalina Manova

Kalina Manova is Professor of Economics at University College London (UCL), specializing in international trade and investment. She chairs senior recruitment and served as Deputy Department Head from 2020 to 2023. Previously, she held academic positions at Oxford University (2015-2017), Stanford University (2007-2015), and Princeton University as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

She earned her AB, AM, and PhD from Harvard University. Her educational background underpins her expertise in quantitative economic analysis and international economics.

Manova's research centers on three interconnected themes: global value chains and firm production networks, examining how firms organize across borders; firm productivity, innovation, and management practices, analyzing drivers of competitive advantage; and financial frictions in international trade and investment, investigating how credit constraints affect cross-border economic activity. Her work integrates micro-level firm data with macroeconomic frameworks, with regional expertise focused on Europe, China, and the Americas.

Analysis of her recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on post-Brexit trade dynamics, innovation diffusion through global networks, and the structural transformation of production systems. Key trends include methodological innovation in measuring firm networks, policy-relevant analysis of trade barriers, and exploration of how intellectual property rights facilitate market entry for emerging economies.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Yrjö Jahnsson Award (2023)
• Philip Leverhulme Prize in Economics (2016)
• Excellence Award in Global Economic Affairs (Kiel Institute)
• Kenen Fellowship (Princeton)
• Hoover National Fellowship (Stanford)

Manova has secured substantial research funding including a €2.4M ERC Advanced Grant (2024-2029), €1.5M ERC Consolidator Grant (2018-2023), and £750K ESRC Brexit Grant (2021-2024). She serves as External Consultant for the Bank of England, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank, providing evidence-based policy advice. Her editorial leadership includes Board Directorship at Review of Economic Studies and editorial roles at American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.