Thomas Stubbs

Thomas Stubbs is a Reader in Global Political Economy at Royal Holloway, University of London, affiliated with the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy. He is also a Research Associate in Political Economy at the Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge. His work bridges academia and policy, focusing on the influence of international financial institutions on development, health, and inequality.

Research interests: His primary areas include international political economy, African politics, global health, and the activities of the IMF. He investigates how lending, surveillance, and policy advice from institutions like the IMF shape social and economic outcomes in developing countries, particularly in the context of austerity, climate change, and public health.

Recent publications: His research output shows a strong trend toward analyzing the intersection of economic governance, social protection, and environmental sustainability. Recent works critically assess the IMF’s role in tax policy, climate action, and health outcomes, revealing a gap between progressive rhetoric and regressive impacts. His 2023 book, A Thousand Cuts, co-authored with A. Kentikelenis, is a key contribution to this field.

Scientific awards:

• Regulation & Governance Top Cited Article Award (2022)
• Govind Top Cited Article Award (2023)
• Socio-Economic Review Best Article Prize (2022)

Advising and grants: As Principal Investigator on the ESRC-funded project The Global Governance of Ideas: International Organisations as Agents of Policy Diffusion, he leads significant research into how international organizations shape national policies. He has consulted for Oxfam, the German Ministry of International Cooperation, and Recourse Foundation, demonstrating applied impact. While no formal students are listed, his supervisory role is implied through research leadership.

Labs and teams: He curates the IMF Monitor, a data hub used by academics and policymakers to track IMF activities, indicating leadership in open data and collaborative research infrastructure.