Stefano Ponte

Presentation

I am primarily interested in transnational economic and environmental governance, with focus on overlaps and tensions between private governance and public regulation. My research, fieldwork, teaching and policy work is informed by international political economy approaches, global value chain analysis and convention theory. 

I analyze governance dynamics and economic and environmental upgrading trajectories in global value chains — especially in developing countries and in Africa. I am particularly interested in how sustainability standards, labels and certifications shape agro-food value chains, and in how different forms of partnerships affect sustainability outcomes.

I am also involved in projects critically examining the role of celebrities and branding in these processes, new forms of corporate social and environmental responsibility, and cause-related marketing.

Primary research areas

• International Political Economy
• Global Value Chains and Production Networks
• Sustainability -- especially standards, labels and certifications
• Cause-related marketing, Brand Aid, role of celebrity mediation
• Political economy of development and of Africa
• Business and Politics in Africa
• Partnerships for sustainability

Courses

Teaching in 2015/16:

• International Political Economy
• Sustainability Challenges 1
• Sustainability Challenges 2

Supervision

Interested in supervising in the areas of:

• Transnational Environmental Governance
• Business and sustainability
• Social and environmental labels and certification
• Ethical and sustainable consumption
• Global value chains and production networks (especially in the agro-food sector)
• Cause-related marketing and brand aid
• New forms of CSR and corporate philanthropy
• Governance in North-South economic relations
• Business, trade and development (especially in Africa)
• Convention theory and management of quality/symbolic value.