Prof Neil Lee

Professor of Economic Geography, The London School of Economics

Neil Lee is Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and an associate member at Nuffield College, University of Oxford. He has held visiting positions at Columbia University, Oxford, Science Po Toulouse, and the University of Inland Norway. He also leads the LSE’s International Inequalities Institute’s ‘Cities’ network and is a former Chair of the Regional Studies Association.

His research considers innovation, economic development, and place-based policy. His 2024 book ‘Innovation for the Masses’ was featured as one of the Financial Times “best new books in economics” and his research and teaching has won awards including the Regional Studies best paper prize. He has acted as an advisor or consultant to governments and international bodies, including the OECD, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the Asian Development Bank.