Ha-Joon Chang

Ha-Joon Chang

World-Renowned Institutional Economist & Authority on Global Industrial Policy

Core Intelligence Domain: Economics
Location: London, United Kingdom | Languages: English, Korean
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Ha-Joon Chang is a globally recognised institutional economist, pioneering author, and one of the world’s foremost authorities on development economics, global trade dynamics, and industrial strategy. Renowned for challenging orthodox free-market narratives, Chang provides corporate leaders, policymakers, and global institutions with proprietary frameworks to navigate the complexities of modern capitalism. By dismantling entrenched economic myths, he equips C-suite executives with the strategic foresight required to anticipate macroeconomic shifts, interpret government intervention, and adapt to the rapidly evolving global economic architecture.

Professional Trajectory & Institutional Leadership

Currently serving as a Research Professor at SOAS University of London, Chang brings unparalleled academic rigour and real-world policy experience to his economic analysis. Prior to joining SOAS in 2022, he was a distinguished pillar of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge, where he taught and researched for over three decades (1990–2022). Beyond academia, Chang operates at the highest levels of global economic policy, having acted as a high-level consultant for the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and a multitude of United Nations agencies, including UNCTAD, UNDESA, and the FAO.

Major Achievements & Proprietary Frameworks

Chang’s economic frameworks, most notably the “Kicking Away the Ladder” concept, have fundamentally reshaped how institutions view historical economic development and trade policy. His extraordinary contributions to economic thought have been recognised with numerous prestigious accolades:

• Wassily Leontief Prize (2005): Awarded for advancing the frontiers of economic thought.
• Gunnar Myrdal Prize (2003): Awarded for his groundbreaking work, Kicking Away the Ladder.
• Top 20 World Thinkers: Consistently ranked by Prospect Magazine as one of the most influential global intellectuals.

He is the author of several internationally bestselling books that have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold nearly 3 million copies worldwide. His seminal works include 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism, Economics: The User’s Guide, Bad Samaritans, and his most recent critically acclaimed publication, Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World.

Core Speaking Topics

As a highly sought-after global keynote speaker, Ha-Joon Chang delivers transformative insights tailored to high-level corporate and governmental audiences. His core speaking themes include:

• The Global Economic Outlook: Navigating inflation, supply chain restructuring, and the future trajectory of international capitalism.
• The Return of Industrial Policy: Understanding how state intervention and geopolitical strategies are reshaping global markets in the 21st century.
• Myth-Busting the Free Market: Strategic realities for multinational corporations operating in highly regulated or transitional economies.
• Sustainable Development & The Global South: Lessons in economic growth, technological capability, and institutional innovation.
• Edible Economics: A highly engaging, accessible exploration of global economic history, trade, and policy told through the culturally resonant lens of world cuisine.

Key Takeaways

• Macroeconomic Foresight: Anticipate the impacts of shifting trade policies, protectionism, and state-led industrial strategies on global business operations.
• Strategic Adaptability: Learn to navigate beyond orthodox economic assumptions to make resilient, evidence-based corporate decisions.
• Global Trade Realities: Gain a pragmatic understanding of how developed and developing nations actually achieve economic success, bypassing conventional rhetoric.
• Engaging Communication: Benefit from Chang’s unique ability to distil highly complex macroeconomic theories into accessible, actionable, and culturally relevant business intelligence.