Anne-Célia Disdier, maximizing the well-being of society

“Being a research fellow at INRA gives us the time we need to reflect on our work. In a climate where quick results are a priority for some, at INRA we can pick apart and analyze a research question extensively.” This has afforded Dr Disdier the opportunity to publish over a dozen articles in renowned international economics publications, including the Review of Economics and Statistics, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the Journal of International Economics and the Journal of Comparative Economics.

Trading places

After completing a PhD at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne on the effects of informal barriers to trade, followed by a 15-month post-doctorate fellowship at the Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano in Milan, Anne-Célia Disdier joined the Joint Research Unit for Public Economics at INRA AgroParisTech on 1 October 2005. She studies non-tariff measures and their impact on the commercial trade of agricultural and agrifood goods. As Dr Disdier explains: “With the decline in customs barriers, regulatory policies have sought to enforce labels, quality standards and other instruments in order to maximize public well-being while limiting trade obstacles and potential protectionism-related disputes at the WTO”. Dr Disdier studies the effects of sanitary measures and technical standards in OECD countries, European legislation on GMOs and the consequences of various public policy instruments. “It is important to evaluate the impacts of these measures in terms of public well-being. This new field of research is based on experimental economics. Studying the impact of non-tariff measures in developing countries which export to Europe is an important component in creating development aid policy”.

Teamwork without borders

Dr Disdier joined the Paris-Jourdan Economic Sciences Joint Research Unit at the PSE on 1 September 2011 and is a member of the school’s G-MonD research group, aimed at analyzing globalisation and development. She is also involved in TradeAG and AgFoodTrade, two European research projects dealing with agricultural and agrifood trade. Dr Disdier works with numerous French, Italian, Swiss and American researchers: “I usually accept the project proposals I receive. I like the stimulation that comes from working with others and comparing viewpoints and ideas.” She is a consultant with the OECD, the World Bank and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and has attended over thirty conferences around the world.

Knowledge sharing

Anne-Célia Disdier views knowledge sharing as essential. She teaches econometrics at the University of Paris I, international trade at the Paris School of Economics, and food safety regulations at AgroParis Tech. She has also taught at the University of Paris XI and led training seminars at the World Bank Institute: “My classes force me to make my work more accessible and present my ideas in a straightforward, succinct manner. Teaching gives my research another, more immediate, purpose.”

On winning the award?

“I was surprised and honoured, but modesty is important. My articles are the result of teamwork and enjoyable, productive team projects. We work in excellent conditions which allow us to produce high quality research”.

 

Mini-cv

• 34 years old
• PhD thesis on informal trade barriers, University of Paris I
• Post-doctoral studies, Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano, Milan