Ralf Martin

Ralf Martin is an Assistant Professor at Imperial College Business School and a Research Fellow in Productivity and Innovation at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is also a member of the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP).

His educational background includes a PhD from LSE, an MSc in Econometrics & Mathematical Economics from LSE, a Master's in International Economic Studies from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and an undergraduate degree (Vordiplom) from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

Ralf Martin's research focuses on econometric policy evaluation, climate change policies, innovation and climate change, industrial policies, business microdata, prediction markets, and memes. His work applies rigorous economic analysis to understand how environmental policies affect business behavior, innovation, and the broader economy. He has particular expertise in analyzing carbon pricing mechanisms, clean technology development, and the economic implications of climate policies. His research methodology often combines theoretical economic modeling with empirical analysis of real-world data to provide actionable insights for policymakers.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of climate policy, industrial strategy, and economic growth. Martin's research examines carbon leakage in multinational companies, sustainable growth opportunities in clean energy sectors (including tidal stream energy, carbon capture, and zero-emission vehicles), and the role of innovation in achieving net-zero transitions. His work consistently uses business microdata to evaluate the causal effects of environmental regulations, particularly the European Union Emissions Trading System.

Ralf Martin actively engages with policy through his work at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at LSE. He regularly presents his research at academic seminars and policy events, such as the 2019 seminar on 'Making smart meters smarter the smart way' which presented findings from a large-scale randomized control trial involving nearly 40,000 customers of a UK energy retailer. This study found that advanced feedback mechanisms could reduce energy consumption by up to 4% on average, with even higher reductions (up to 12%) among engaged customers.

His research has important implications for climate policy design, particularly regarding carbon leakage, industry competitiveness, and innovation incentives. Martin collaborates with numerous prominent researchers including Antoine Dechezleprêtre, Mirabelle Muûls, John Van Reenen, and Anna Valero, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work at the intersection of economics, business, and environmental policy.