Sukkoo Kim

Sukkoo Kim is an Associate Professor of Economics at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the Department of Economics and formerly with the Department of Global Studies. He holds a PhD from UCLA. His research focuses on American economic history, regional economics, trade, and development, with particular attention to institutional histories and geographical factors shaping economic outcomes. He served as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) from 2000–2014.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from Pomona College
• Doctorate from UCLA

Research interests include the historical trajectories of U.S. regional economies, colonial and state institutions, and the rise of modern business enterprises. His book manuscript, Creating the American State, explores the origins of American exceptionalism through the lens of England’s colonial institutional history. His work combines quantitative analysis with institutional and geographical perspectives, addressing topics like regional convergence, comparative advantage, and manufacturing structure.

Awards:

• John M. Olin Foundation Faculty Research Fellowship (1998–1999)
• Washington University Faculty Research Grants (1997, 2005)
• Weidenbaum Center Research Grants (2001, 2005)

His research has been supported by grants from WashU and NBER. He joined the university in 1993 and has contributed to both academic and policy-oriented scholarship.

Labs/Teams: Collaborated with NBER and maintained interdisciplinary ties through his Global Studies appointment.