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I am a Full Professor of Economics at Université Paris-Saclay (RITM), and a Research Fellow at the Paris School of Economics, CEPREMAP, IEB, and CEPR. My current research interests span the "Economic Geography" and "Urban Economics" fields. I investigate the effects of transportation systems on spatial inequalities and housing prices, the impact of place-based policies on education choices and employment opportunities for residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods, and the relationship between pollution, car traffic, and urban morphology.
Full Professor of Economics
Professeur
Economics
T(erritoires), M(ondialisation)
Membre actuel
54 Bd Desgranges 92330 Sceaux
A102
Urban Economics, Economic Geography, Transport Economics, Place-Based Policies
Current courses
- Principles of Economics, 1st-year Bachelor's degree in Economics and Management, Université Paris-Saclay.
- Economic Geography, 3rd-year Bachelor's degree in Applied Economics, Université Paris-Saclay.
- Urban and Regional Economics, 2nd-year Master's program in Economics, Université Paris-Saclay.
- Policy outreach across multiple platforms, including IPP, VoxEu (see also this column), The Conversation, Telos, PSE (see also this column), CEPREMAP, CDC.
- Member of the Scientific Committee of the “RIEF” (Research in International Economics and Finance) network.
- Co-organizer of the “RUES” (Regional and Urban Economics Seminar) at the Paris School of Economics.
- Researcher affiliated with the “Urban New Deal Chair” at the Paris School of Economics.
- Co-founder of the “Urban Economics, History, Society” collaborative project at the Paris School of Economics.
- 2023-2027: Research grant funded by the French National Research Agency for the project “Urban Neighborhoods and Economic Opportunities” (ANR URBOPP, co-PI with G. Fack).
- 2022-2023: María Zambrano grant to attract international talent awarded by the Spanish government (under the auspices of the University of Barcelona) and funded by the European Union.
- 2020-2022: Research grant funded by the “Education Policy and Social Mobility Ardian-PSE-DEPP Chair” to study the impact of place-based policies on education choices (co-PI, with M. Garrouste).
- 2013-2017: Research grant funded by the “Société du Grand Paris” to study the Labour productivity impact of the agglomeration economies triggered by the "Grand Paris Express" metro line (co-PI with P.-P. Combes & L. Gobillon).
- 2010-2012: Research grant funded by the French Ministries of Labour and Urban Affairs to evaluate the impact of the French Enterprise Zones program (co-PI with A. Briant and B. Schmutz).
- 2005-2008: Research grant funded by the PREDIT to study “The impact of Borders, Migrations and Business Networks on French Trade” (co-PI with P.-P. Combes, T. Mayer, and E. Paluzie).
- 2024-: Co-organizer of the RITM Economics Seminar, Université Paris-Saclay.
- 2021-: President of the “CCUPS” carrier committee for Economics & Management, Université Paris-Saclay.
- 2017-: Advisor for candidates applying for the French “HDR diploma” in Economics, Université Paris-Saclay.
- 2020-2025: Deputy Head of the RITM Research Center in Economics & Management, Université Paris-Saclay.
- 2020-2025: Scientific Board Member of the RITM Research Center in Economics & Management, Université Paris-Saclay.
- 2018-: Member of the Editorial Board of Regional Science and Urban Economics.
- 2017-: Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Economic Geography.
Selection of peer-reviewed articles
- Garrouste M., and Lafourcade M., 2026, “Place-Based Policies: A Path to Opportunity or a Mark of Stigma for Targeted Neighborhoods?” Conditionally accepted, Journal of the European Economic Association.
- Lafourcade M., and N. Sheard, 2026, “Cities in Flight: The Role of Airports in Urban Development.” Regional Science and Urban Economics, 104229.
- Blaudin de Thé C., B. Carantino, and M. Lafourcade, 2021, “The Carbon ‘Carprint’ of Urbanization: New Evidence from French Cities.” Regional Science and Urban Economics, 89, 103693.
- Briant A., M. Lafourcade, and B. Schmutz, 2015, “Can Tax Breaks Beat Geography? Lessons from the French Enterprise Zone Experience.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 7(2), 88-124.
- Briant A., Combes P.-P., and M. Lafourcade, 2014, “Product complexity, Quality of Institutions and the Pro-Trade Effect of Immigrants.” The World Economy, 37(1), 63-85.
- Combes P.-P., and M. Lafourcade, 2011, “Competition, Market Access and Economic Geography: Structural Estimation and Predictions for France.” Regional Science and Urban Economics, 41(6), 508-524.
- Combes P.-P., M. Lafourcade, J.-F. Thisse, and J.-C. Toutain, 2011, “The Rise and Fall of Spatial Inequalities in France : A Long-Run Perspective”. Explorations in Economic History, 48, 243-271.
- Lafourcade M., and E. Paluzie, 2011, “European Integration, FDI and the Geography of French Trade.” Regional Studies, 45(4), 419-439.
- Briant A., Combes P.-P., and M. Lafourcade, 2010, “Dots to boxes: Do the Size and Shape of Spatial Units Jeopardize Economic Geography Estimations?” Journal of Urban Economics, 67(3), 287-302.
- Lafourcade M., and G. Mion, 2007, “Concentration, Agglomeration and the Size of Plants.” Regional Science and Urban Economics, 37(1), 46-68.
- Combes P.-P. and M. Lafourcade, 2005, “Transport Costs: Measures, Determinants and Regional Policy Implications for France.” Journal of Economic Geography, 5(3), 319-349.
- Combes P.-P., M. Lafourcade and T. Mayer, 2005, “The Trade Creating Effects of Business and Social Networks: Evidence from France.” Journal of International Economics, 66(1), 1-29.
Selection of books and book chapters
- Combes P.-P., Gobillon L., and Lafourcade M., 2019, "L'impact des variations de densité et d'accessibilité sur la productivité du travail et les salaires", in Le Grand Paris Express: les enjeux économiques et urbains, J.-C. Prager (ed.), Economica.
- Lafourcade M., and Mayneris F., 2017, En finir avec les ghettos urbains ? Retour sur l'expérience des zones franches urbaines, ed. ENS Rue d'Ulm, CEPREMAP booklet n°44. Free access | Video book presentation.
- Lafourcade M. and Thisse J.-F., 2013, "New Economic Geography: The Role of Transport Costs", in Handbook of Transport Economics, A. de Palma, R. Lindsey, E. Quinet, R. Vickerman (ed.), Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., Cheltenham.
- Lafourcade M., and Crozet M., 2009, La nouvelle économie géographique, ed. La Découverte, Collection Repères économie n°542.
For a comprehensive list of my scientific output and research activities, see my CV.