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Dr Susanne Frick
(she/her)
Teams and roles for Susanne Frick
Senior Lecturer in Economic Geography
School of Social and Spatial Sciences
Overview
Susanne is a Senior Lecturer in Economic Geography. She joined Cardiff University in December 2023. Her research focuses on the drivers of local and regional economic development, with particular interest in the design and effectiveness of industrial and place-based development policies. Before joining Cardiff, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, where she examined urban development policies across European cities. She is currently also a Research Fellow at The Productivity Institute and a Miguel Dols Fellow at the Cañada Blanch Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Susanne completed her PhD in Economic Geography and held a LSE Fellowship in Local Economic Development at the LSE. She brings substantial experience as a consultant to international organisations and governments, having worked with the World Bank, UNCTAD, and other institutions. Prior to her doctoral studies, Susanne spent several years with Dalberg Global Development Advisors, where she supported clients such as the Gates Foundation and the International Trade Centre in strategic planning initiatives. She also worked in Guatemala for two years with Fundesa, a private-sector-funded think tank, collaborating closely with the Ministry of Economy on an inclusive economic development strategy.
Publication
2026
- Frick, S. A. , McCann, P. and Collier, P. 2026. Resilience, institutions and local leadership: lessons from three European case studies. Regional Studies, Regional Science 13 (1)(10.1080/21681376.2026.2699575)
2025
- Frick, S. A. and Rodriguez-Pose, A. 2025. Lessons-learnt from growth pole strategies in the developing world. Progress in Planning 195 100958. (10.1016/j.progress.2025.100958)
- Frick, S. , Prenzel, P. and McCann, P. 2025. What role for state development banks to address regional inequality? SDBs and the spatial diffusion of private sector funding. Presented at: RSA Annual Conference Porto 08 May 2025.
2024
- McCann, P. et al., 2024. Access to capital and finance: strategic context, challenges and policy recommendations. Other. The Productivity Institute. Available at: https://www.productivity.ac.uk/research/access-to-capital-and-finance-strategic-context-challenges-and-policy-recommendations/.
- Frick, S. A. and Radouane, I. 2024. Special economic zones and entrepreneurship: A new path forward for SEZs in Africa?. Transnational Corporations Review 31 (1), pp.97-114. (10.18356/2076099x-31-1-7)
- Frick, S. , Prenzel, P. and McCann, P. 2024. Urban attractiveness and local economic development. Tracing complementarities in policy approaches for local economic development. Presented at: RSA Winter Conference Driving Regions Forward: Transitioning to Brighter Regional Futures London, UK 7 November 2024.
2023
- Frick, S. et al. 2023. Lessons from successful ‘turnaround’ cities for the UK. Project Report.[Online].Resolution Foundation. Available at: http://economy2030.resolutionfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lessons-from-successful-%E2%80%98turnaround-cities-for-the-UK.pdf.
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2023. What draws investment to special economic zones? Lessons from developing countries. Regional Studies 57 (11), pp.2136-2147. (10.1080/00343404.2023.2185218)
- Frick, S. 2023. Turnaround cities: French case study insights from Lille. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: http://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/Format_Lille_case_study.pdf.
- Frick, S. 2023. Turnaround cities: Spanish case study insights from the Basque Country and Bilbao. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: http://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/Format_Bilbao_case_study.pdf.
- Frick, S. and Prenzel, P. 2023. Turnaround cities: German case studies insights from Dortmund, Duisburg and Leipzig. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: https://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/German_case_studies.pdf.
2022
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2022. Special economic zones and sourcing linkages with the local economy: Reality or pipedream?. European Journal of Development Research 34 (2), pp.655-676. (10.1057/s41287-021-00374-4)
- Rodríguez-Pose, A. et al., 2022. The challenge of developing special economic zones in Africa: Evidence and lessons learnt. Regional Science Policy & Practice 14 (2), pp.456-481. (10.1111/rsp3.12535)
- Frick, S. and Taylor, I. 2022. Insights from resilient cities. Documentation. Oxford: Blavatnik School of Government/University of Oxford. Available at: https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/publications/insights-resilient-cities.
2019
- Frick, S. A. , Rodríguez-Pose, A. and Wong, M. D. 2019. Toward economically dynamic special economic zones in emerging countries. Economic Geography 95 (1), pp.30-64. (10.1080/00130095.2018.1467732)
- Frick, S. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2019. Are special economic zones in emerging countries a catalyst for the growth of surrounding areas?. Transnational Corporations 26 (2), pp.75-94. (10.18356/0554caef-en)
2018
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2018. Change in urban concentration and economic growth. World Development 105 , pp.156-170. (10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.12.034)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2018. Big or small cities? On city size and economic growth. Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy 49 (1), pp.4-32. (10.1111/grow.12232)
- Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Frick, S. A. 2018. Urban concentration and economic growth. [Online].Centre for Economic Policy Research. Available at: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/urban-concentration-and-economic-growth.
- Frick, S. 2018. Urbanization, cities and economic growth: trends, recent evidence and policy implications. Regions Ezine (10.1080/13673882.2018.00001006)
2017
- Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Frick, S. A. 2017. Big or small cities: On city size and economic growth. [Online].Centre for Economic Policy Research. Available at: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/big-or-small-cities-city-size-and-economic-growth.
2016
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2016. Average city size and economic growth. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 9 (2), pp.301-318. (10.1093/cjres/rsw013)
Articles
- Frick, S. A. , McCann, P. and Collier, P. 2026. Resilience, institutions and local leadership: lessons from three European case studies. Regional Studies, Regional Science 13 (1)(10.1080/21681376.2026.2699575)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodriguez-Pose, A. 2025. Lessons-learnt from growth pole strategies in the developing world. Progress in Planning 195 100958. (10.1016/j.progress.2025.100958)
- Frick, S. A. and Radouane, I. 2024. Special economic zones and entrepreneurship: A new path forward for SEZs in Africa?. Transnational Corporations Review 31 (1), pp.97-114. (10.18356/2076099x-31-1-7)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2023. What draws investment to special economic zones? Lessons from developing countries. Regional Studies 57 (11), pp.2136-2147. (10.1080/00343404.2023.2185218)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2022. Special economic zones and sourcing linkages with the local economy: Reality or pipedream?. European Journal of Development Research 34 (2), pp.655-676. (10.1057/s41287-021-00374-4)
- Rodríguez-Pose, A. et al., 2022. The challenge of developing special economic zones in Africa: Evidence and lessons learnt. Regional Science Policy & Practice 14 (2), pp.456-481. (10.1111/rsp3.12535)
- Frick, S. A. , Rodríguez-Pose, A. and Wong, M. D. 2019. Toward economically dynamic special economic zones in emerging countries. Economic Geography 95 (1), pp.30-64. (10.1080/00130095.2018.1467732)
- Frick, S. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2019. Are special economic zones in emerging countries a catalyst for the growth of surrounding areas?. Transnational Corporations 26 (2), pp.75-94. (10.18356/0554caef-en)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2018. Change in urban concentration and economic growth. World Development 105 , pp.156-170. (10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.12.034)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2018. Big or small cities? On city size and economic growth. Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy 49 (1), pp.4-32. (10.1111/grow.12232)
- Frick, S. 2018. Urbanization, cities and economic growth: trends, recent evidence and policy implications. Regions Ezine (10.1080/13673882.2018.00001006)
- Frick, S. A. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. 2016. Average city size and economic growth. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 9 (2), pp.301-318. (10.1093/cjres/rsw013)
Conferences
- Frick, S. , Prenzel, P. and McCann, P. 2025. What role for state development banks to address regional inequality? SDBs and the spatial diffusion of private sector funding. Presented at: RSA Annual Conference Porto 08 May 2025.
- Frick, S. , Prenzel, P. and McCann, P. 2024. Urban attractiveness and local economic development. Tracing complementarities in policy approaches for local economic development. Presented at: RSA Winter Conference Driving Regions Forward: Transitioning to Brighter Regional Futures London, UK 7 November 2024.
Monographs
- McCann, P. et al., 2024. Access to capital and finance: strategic context, challenges and policy recommendations. Other. The Productivity Institute. Available at: https://www.productivity.ac.uk/research/access-to-capital-and-finance-strategic-context-challenges-and-policy-recommendations/.
- Frick, S. et al. 2023. Lessons from successful ‘turnaround’ cities for the UK. Project Report.[Online].Resolution Foundation. Available at: http://economy2030.resolutionfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lessons-from-successful-%E2%80%98turnaround-cities-for-the-UK.pdf.
- Frick, S. 2023. Turnaround cities: French case study insights from Lille. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: http://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/Format_Lille_case_study.pdf.
- Frick, S. 2023. Turnaround cities: Spanish case study insights from the Basque Country and Bilbao. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: http://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/Format_Bilbao_case_study.pdf.
- Frick, S. and Prenzel, P. 2023. Turnaround cities: German case studies insights from Dortmund, Duisburg and Leipzig. Project Report.[Online].Blavatnik School of Government. Available at: https://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk/documents/German_case_studies.pdf.
- Frick, S. and Taylor, I. 2022. Insights from resilient cities. Documentation. Oxford: Blavatnik School of Government/University of Oxford. Available at: https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/publications/insights-resilient-cities.
Websites
- Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Frick, S. A. 2018. Urban concentration and economic growth. [Online].Centre for Economic Policy Research. Available at: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/urban-concentration-and-economic-growth.
- Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Frick, S. A. 2017. Big or small cities: On city size and economic growth. [Online].Centre for Economic Policy Research. Available at: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/big-or-small-cities-city-size-and-economic-growth.
Research
My general research interest revolves around understanding the drivers of regional and urban development; how these drivers can be influenced by policy as well as the social and economic consequences of spatial inequalities. To date, I have explored this overarching interest through four research strands:
- the relationship between urbanization, cities and economic development (see for example here and here for non-technical articles on this topic)
- the implementation of local development policies in emerging economies (see for example here and here for policy reports for which I was one of the main authors)
- transformative processes in Western cities and urban development policies (see for example here and here)
- the role of state development banks for regional and local development (see for example here and here)
For peer-reviewed publications related to these topics, please refer to the publications tab.
In my research I strive for policy relevance and have worked closely with international organizations, including the World Bank and UNCTAD as well as local governments.
Teaching
I am generally involved in the teaching of research methods and modules related to economic geography. I am the module leader for the first year course in "Urban Economies", cover the quantitative section of the "Introduction to Research Methods" module in the second year and teach on the MSc module "Governing Urban and Regional Dynamics".
I am also supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students for their dissertations and act as a personal tutor.
