Michael Storper

Michael Storper is a Distinguished Professor of Regional and International Development in Urban Planning and Director of Global Public Affairs at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. He holds concurrent appointments as Professor of Economic Sociology at Sciences Po (Paris) and Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics. His research focuses on urban and regional economic development, globalization, and the interplay between technology, cities, and inequality.

Storper earned his Ph.D. in Geography from UC Berkeley. His work examines how technological change and globalization shape urban economies, regional inequalities, and spatial disparities in economic success. Notable publications include Keys to the City (2013) and The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies (2015), which analyze divergent development trajectories of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

His research highlights political reactions to economic disparities, including debates over trade, migration, and regional policy. Awards include the Sir Peter Hall Award (2012) and recognition as a 'World's Most Influential Scientific Mind' (2014). Current projects address the impacts of new technologies on urban employment and the political consequences of regional inequality.