Trang Nguyen is a PhD fellow in Innovation, Economics and Governance for Development at UNU-MERIT.
Her research focuses on the economics of innovation, examining how automation technologies, global value chains, and industrial policies shape firm performance and structural transformation in developing and emerging economies. She works primarily with firm-level microdata from Vietnam and France, using advanced econometric methods to study:
(i) How automation influences reshoring decisions and export dynamics
(ii) The effects of special economic zones and industrial policies on firm productivity and growth
(iii) How financial sector expansion affects gender gaps in firm outcomes
Trang’s work has been presented at international conferences and institutions such as the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, UNCTAD, the World Bank, and the European Trade Study Group. In 2025, she received an Honourable Mention for the ADB–IEA Innovative Policy Research Award.
She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and previously worked on research and policy projects related to industrial development and trade.
You can learn more about her research on her personal website.