Till is a PhD student in Economic Geography, investigating prospects and strategies to support the structural transformation of economies in sub-Saharan Africa. He is particularly interested in industrial policy and the effects of foreign direct investment and multinational corporations on productivity, regional development, and poverty alleviation. His research is funded by a Doctoral Training Partnership scholarship from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Prior to joining the PhD programme, he completed the MSc Local Economic Development at LSE (with distinction) and worked as a Consultant on Private Sector Development and Entrepreneurship in the Development Cooperation sector. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Bayreuth and spent a semester as a visiting international student of philosophy at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Provisional thesis title:
Africa’s Manufacturing Puzzle: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa’s Economic Transformation

Research interests: 

• Economic Development
• Industrial Policy
• Globalization and Development Policy
• Migration and Diaspora
• Rigorous Impact Evaluation

Skills: STATA, R

Awards and scholarships:

• Winner of the MSc Local Economic Development Best Overall Performance Prize
• Recipient of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship

Affiliations: Affiliated with Scio Advisory Services for International Cooperation

Supervisors:
Prof Riccardo Crescenzi
Prof Andrés Rodríguez-Pose