Stephan Heblich

Stephan Heblich is a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Toronto and cross-appointed to the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. His research focuses on spatial disparities in the distribution of economic and cultural amenities, their impact on house prices, innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional voting behavior, with a strong emphasis on historical developments explaining modern phenomena.

• Key research areas: Economic Geography, Urban Economics, Political Economy, Economic History, and Public Policy
• Editorial board member of leading journals: Journal of Urban Economics, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Journal of Economic Geography

His work often uses historical events to establish causality, such as analyzing the long-term effects of 19th-century pollution on urban inequality (East Side Story) or migration patterns post-WWII. Recent studies include the economic consequences of shale gas exploration (Market Tremors), the impact of rail disinvestment (The Beeching Axe), and the role of cultural amenities in economic growth (Music in the Air). Media outlets like The Economist, Vox EU, and Freakonomics Radio have featured his research.

He has collaborated extensively with scholars like Alex Trew, Yanos Zylberberg, Christian Dippel, and Stephen Redding. His methodological contributions include causal mediation analysis tools for instrumental variables regressions (ivmediate). While no explicit scientific awards are mentioned, his editorial roles and media presence indicate significant academic influence.