Sheffield Urban, International Trade and Environmental Economics (SUITE)
Our research group brings together scholars from the School of Economics who specialise in urban and regional economics, international trade, and environmental economics.
About our work
The group brings together researchers working across urban and regional economics, international trade, environmental economics, and innovation. It is united by a shared commitment to advancing economic theory and applying rigorous microeconometric methods to address pressing policy questions, including the spatial and international distribution of economic activity, the evolution of local labour markets, dynamics in housing markets, and the design of environmental policies and the energy transition.
Key research strengths include:
- the spatial and regional impacts of globalisation and innovation;
- the economics of cities, remote work, housing markets, and inequality;
- energy poverty, household resilience, and the low-carbon transition;
- environmental policy design and industrial organisation;
- and the analysis of networks and transport systems.
The SUITE group plays a central role in the microeconomics research community. The group contributes to externally funded projects supported by organisations such as the ESRC, UKRI, and the British Academy. Its members publish in leading journals, actively engage with academic and policy audiences, and supervise PhD students across a wide range of topics in trade, urban, and environmental economics.
Our activities
We convene regular group meetings to foster collaboration, generate new research ideas, and initiate joint projects. These meetings also provide a platform for knowledge exchange, support the development of grant applications, and offer training in cutting-edge theoretical and empirical methods for our staff and PhD students members.
We actively contribute to policy development through collaborations with UK local and national government departments and agencies - including DBT, DSIT, HMT, MHCLG, OFGEM, and UKRI - as well as international organisations such as the OECD and the European Commission.
We organise the Sheffield Spatial Analysis Network (SAN) webinar series, which promotes research exchange and collaboration on spatial issues. The network brings together over 300 members across 25 countries, fostering interdisciplinary engagement and supporting innovative research.
We regularly host major academic events in Sheffield, bringing together leading scholars in the field. Recent examples include the Network of Industrial Economists 2026 Conference & PhD Symposium, the annual Bessemer Symposium on the Economics of Innovation, and the Royal Economic Society 2024 workshop on the evolution of regional income disparities
See events from the cluster and across the school.
Get involved with our work
The Sheffield Urban, International Trade and Environmental Economics group is led by Enrico Vanino.
Our group includes researchers at all levels, from established professors to early career researchers and PhD students.
- Our members
We welcome enquiries from researchers within and beyond academia. Please reach out to Enrico to explore engagement opportunities or if you would like to know more about our activities.