Associate Professor in International Macroeconomics
Director of the MBA Programme
Assistant Director of the Centre for Business Research (CBR)
Fellow of St Catharine’s College
BA (University of Cambridge)
Research interests
Macroeconomic policy and performance; international trade; regional economics; corporate performance; innovation and the commercialisation of science. Read further information on current projects.
Subject group: Economics & Policy
Professional experience
Michael Kitson is an Assistant Director of the Centre for Business Research (CBR), Cambridge, and is Hub Director of the UK-Innovation Research Centre. He has undertaken research for: the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS); the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).
Michael Kitson was Assistant Director of the National Competitiveness Network (NCN) of the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) between 2000 and 2003, and Director of NCN between 2003 and 2007. CMI was a joint venture between Cambridge University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to improve competitiveness, innovation and entrepreneurship in the UK. He has provided evidence and advice to: the EU; the House of Lords enquiry into globalisation; and various regional and local governments. He is currently advising the Northern Ireland Government about its innovation policy.
Previous appointments
Before coming to the School, Michael Kitson was Newton Trust Lecturer in the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge and College Teaching Officer at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. He has also been a Research Associate at the Department of Land Economy and a Research Officer at the Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge.
Selected publications
Here are a selection of Michael Kitson’s publications. Please see the “Selected publications” tab above for a more comprehensive list.
Lawson, C., Salter, A., Hughes, A. and Kitson, M. (2019) “Citizens of somewhere: examining the geography of foreign and native-born academics’ engagement with external actors.” Research Policy, 48(3): 759-774 (DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2018.11.008)
Freitas, C. and Kitson, M. (2018) “Perceptions of entrepreneurial ecosystems in remote islands and core regions.” Island Studies Journal, 13(1): 267-284 (DOI: 10.24043/isj.44)
Hughes, A. and Kitson, M. (2012) “Pathways to impact and the strategic role of universities: new evidence on the breadth and depth of university knowledge exchange in the UK and the factors constraining its development.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 36(3): 723-750 (DOI: 10.1093/cje/bes017)
Kitson, M., Martin, R. and Tyler, P. (2011) “The geographies of austerity.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 4(3): 289-302 (DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsr030)
Abreu, M., Grinevich, V., Kitson, M. and Savona, M. (2010) “Policies to enhance the ‘hidden innovation’ in services: evidence and lessons from the UK.” The Service Industries Journal, 30(1): 99-118 (DOI: 10.1080/02642060802236160)
Haugh, H. and Kitson, M. (2007) “The Third Way and the third sector: New Labour’s economic policy and the social economy.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31(6): 973-994
Journal articles
Kitson, M. and Solomou, S. (1991) “Trade policy and the regionalization of imports in interwar Britain.” Bulletin of Economic Research, 43(2): 151-168
Kitson, M., Solomou, S. and Weale, M. (1991) “Effective protection and economic recovery in the United Kingdom during the 1930s.” Economic History Review, 44(2): 328-338
Kitson, M. and Solomou, S. (1995) “Bilateralism in the interwar world economy.” Bulletin of Economic Research, 47(3): 197-219
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1996) “Britain’s industrial performance since 1960: underinvestment and relative decline.” Economic Journal, 106(434): 196-212
Berry, R., Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1996) “Creating jobs fast: a million jobs could be created quickly and without excessive cost.” New Economy, 3(3): 133-137
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1997) “Does manufacturing matter?” International Journal of the Economics of Business, 4(1): 71-95
Kitson, M., Martin, R. and Wilkinson, F. (2000) “Labour markets, social justice and economic efficiency.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 24(6): 631-641
Kitson, M., Martin, R. and Tyler, P. (2004) “Regional competitiveness: an elusive yet key concept?” Regional Studies, 38(9): 991-999
Kitson, M., Martin, R., Tyler, P. (2004) “Editorial: In honour of David Keeble: pioneer in the study of regional enterprise and entrepreneurship.” Regional Studies, 38(8): 867-869
Kitson, M. (2005) “Economics for the future.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 29(6): 827-835
Kitson, M. (2005) “The American economic model and European economic policy.” Regional Studies, 39(7): 987-1001
Iyer, S., Kitson, M. and Toh, B. (2005) “Social capital, economic growth and regional development.” Regional Studies, 39(8): 1015-1040
Martin, R., Gray, M., Tyler, P., McCombie, J., Fingleton, B., Kitson, M., Asheim, H. and Glasmeier, A. (2005) “Editorial: of journals, oil tankers and citation impacts: signing-off the editorship of Regional Studies.” Regional Studies, 39(9): 1157-1158
Kitson, M. and Wilkinson, F. (2007) “The economics of New Labour: policy and performance.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31(6): 806-816 (DOI: 10.1093/cje/bem045)
Haugh, H. and Kitson, M. (2007) “The Third Way and the third sector: New Labour’s economic policy and the social economy.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31(6): 973-994
De Goei, B., Burger, M.J., Van Oort, F.G. and Kitson, M. (2010) “Functional polycentrism and urban network development in the Greater South East, United Kingdom: evidence from commuting patterns, 1981-2001.” Regional Studies, 44(9): 1149-1170 (DOI: 10.1080/00343400903365102)
Abreu, M., Grinevich, V., Kitson, M. and Savona, M. (2010) “Policies to enhance the ‘hidden innovation’ in services: evidence and lessons from the UK.” The Service Industries Journal, 30(1): 99-118 (DOI: 10.1080/02642060802236160)
Kitson, M., Martin, R. and Tyler, P. (2011) “The geographies of austerity.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 4(3): 289-302 (DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsr030)
Hughes, A. and Kitson, M. (2012) “Pathways to impact and the strategic role of universities: new evidence on the breadth and depth of university knowledge exchange in the UK and the factors constraining its development.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 36(3): 723-750 (DOI: 10.1093/cje/bes017)
Lobao, L., Gray, M., Cox, K. and Kitson, M. (2018) “The shrinking state? Understanding the assault on the public sector.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 11(3): 389-408 (DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsy026)
Freitas, C. and Kitson, M. (2018) “Perceptions of entrepreneurial ecosystems in remote islands and core regions.” Island Studies Journal, 13(1): 267-284 (DOI: 10.24043/isj.44)
Kitson, M. (2019) “Innovation policy and place: a critical assessment.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 12(2): 293-315 (DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsz007)
Lawson, C., Salter, A., Hughes, A. and Kitson, M. (2019) “Citizens of somewhere: examining the geography of foreign and native-born academics’ engagement with external actors.” Research Policy, 48(3): 759-774 (DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2018.11.008)
Book chapters
Kitson, M. and Solomou, S. (1989) “The macroeconomics of protectionism: the case of Britain in the 1930s.” In Lawson, T., Gabriel Palma, J. and Sender, J. (eds.): Kaldor’s political economy. London: Academic Press, pp.155-170
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1995) “Trade and growth: a historical perspective.” In Michie, J. and Grieve Smith, J. (eds.): Managing the global economy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.3-36
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1996) “Manufacturing capacity, investment, and employment.” In Michie, J. and Grieve Smith, J. (eds.): Creating industrial capacity: towards full employment. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.24-51
Kitson, M. (1997) “Competitive weakness of the UK economy.” In Arestis, P., Palma, G. and Sawyer, M. (eds.): Markets, unemployment and economic policy: essays in honour of Geoff Harcourt: vol.2. London: Routledge, pp.133-149
Kitson, M., Michie, J. and Sutherland, H. (1997) “‘A price well worth paying?’ The benefits of a full-employment strategy.” In Michie, J. and Grieve Smith, J. (eds.): Employment and economic performance: jobs, inflation and growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.234-253
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1999) “The political economy of globalisation.” In Archibugi, D., Howells, J. and Michie, J. (eds.): Innovation policy in a global economy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.163-183
Kitson, M. (2001) “Slump and recovery: the UK experience.” In Balderston, T. (ed.): World economy and national economies in the interwar slump. Basingstoke: Macmillan
Kitson, M. (2001) “Memorandum.” In House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs (eds.): Globalisation: HL Paper No.143. London: HMSO, pp.[1-10]
Kitson, M., Michie, J. and Sheehan-Quinn, M. (2003) “Markets, competition, cooperation and innovation.” In Coffey, D. and Thornley, C. (eds.): Industrial and labour market policy and performance: issues and perspectives. London: Routledge
Kitson, M. and Wilkinson, F. (2003) “Labour mobility, training and labour force flexibility.” In Cosh, A. and Hughes, A. (eds.): Enterprise challenged: policy and performance in the British SME sector 1999-2002. Cambridge: ESRC Centre for Business Research, pp.32-44
Kitson, M. and Wilkinson, F. (2003) “The state of competitiveness.” In Cosh, A. and Hughes, A. (eds.): Enterprise challenged: policy and performance in the British SME sector 1999-2002. Cambridge: ESRC Centre for Business Research, pp.20-31
Kitson, M. (2004) “Failure followed by success or success followed by failure? A re-examination of British economic growth since 1949.” In Floud, R. and Johnson, D. (eds.): The Cambridge economic history of modern Britain: vol.3: Structural change and growth, 1939-2000. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.27-56
Kitson, M. (2005) “Measuring capitalism: output, growth and economic policy.” In Coates, D. (ed.): Varieties of capitalism, varieties of approach. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Kitson, M. (2007) “Regional variations in competitiveness and their implications for regional policy.” In Cosh, A. and Hughes, A. (eds.): British enterprise: thriving or surviving? Cambridge: ESRC Centre for Business Research, pp.58-64
Books, monographs, reports & case studies
Kitson, M. and Solomou, S. (1990) Protectionism and economic revival: the British interwar economy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (2000) The political economy of competitiveness: essays on employment, public policy and corporate performance. London: Routledge.
Martin, R., Kitson, M. and Tyler, P. (eds.) (2006) Regional competitiveness. London: Routledge.
Abreu, M., Grinevich, V., Kitson, M. and Savona, M. (2007) Absorptive capacity and regional patterns of innovation, Report to the Department of Trade and Industry. London: Department of Trade and Industry.
Abreu, M., Grinevich, V., Kitson, M. and Savona. M. (2008) Taking services seriously: how policy can stimulate the ‘hidden innovation’ in the UK’s services economy. London: NESTA.
Kitson, K., Howells, J., Braham, R. and Westlake, S. (2009) The connected university: driving recovery and growth in the UK economy. London: National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.
Conference papers
Primost, D., Oliver, N. and Kitson, M. (2002) “The impact of exchange rates on operations: the case of the UK automotive components industry.” In Christiansen, J.K. and Boer, H. (eds.) Operations management and the new economy: Proceedings of the International Conference of the European Operations Management Association (9th), 2-4 June 2002, Copenhagen, Denmark. Aalborg: Copenhagen Business School and Aalborg University, pp.1191-1201
Working papers
Kitson, M. (1995) “Seedcorn or chaff? Unemployment and small firm performance.” ESRC Centre for Business Research, Cambridge University, Working Paper No.2
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1995) “Britain’s industrial performance since 1960: underinvestment and relative decline.” ESRC Centre for Business Research, Cambridge University, Working Paper No.14
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1995) “Conflict, cooperation and change: the political economy of trade and trade policy.” Judge Institute of Management, Cambridge University, Research Paper No.1995/20
Kitson, M., Michie, J. and Sutherland, H. (1996) “The fiscal and distributional implications of job creation.” ESRC Centre for Business Research, Cambridge University, Working Paper No.37
Kitson, M. and Michie, J. (1998) “Markets, competition and innovation.” ESRC Centre for Business Research, Cambridge University, Working Paper No.84
Kitson, M., Michie, J. and Quinn, M. (2001) “Markets, competition, cooperation and innovation.” ESRC Centre for Business Research, Cambridge University, Working Paper No.212
