Rodney D. Ludema

Rodney D. Ludema is a Professor of Economics at Georgetown University, holding joint appointments in the Department of Economics and the School of Foreign Service. He serves as Chair of the Economics Department and Director of the Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy. His academic career spans roles as Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State (2014–2016) and Senior International Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (2012–2013).

Ludema earned a B.A. from Calvin College and advanced degrees (M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.) in Economics from Columbia University. His research focuses on the political economy of trade policy, including topics like preferential trade agreements, trade sanctions, environmental trade linkages, and GATT/WTO dispute mechanisms. He has authored influential works analyzing global value chains, MFN clause dynamics, and the strategic use of targeted sanctions.

His professional affiliations include leadership roles in Georgetown's interdisciplinary Landegger Program, which bridges international business and diplomacy. Ludema's work often intersects with policy-making, reflecting his experience in high-level government economic advisory roles. He maintains active collaborations in international trade research, frequently publishing on topics such as trade policy uncertainty, tariff design, and cross-border environmental externalities.

Key professional contributions include analyzing the economic impacts of sanctions regimes, evaluating trade policy instruments in globalized supply chains, and exploring the governance challenges of multilateral trade frameworks. His scholarship is characterized by rigorous empirical analysis combined with policy-relevant insights.