Professor Michael Grimm

Professor Michael Grimm holds the Chair of Development Economics of the University of Passau and is the Director of the Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (PICAIS). Moreover, he is the Chairman of the Reserch Committee on Development Economics of the German Economic Association (Verein für Socialpolitik). He is also one of the Principal Investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720. Previously, he was Professor of Development Economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Visiting Professor at the Paris School of Economics and Consultant for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Professor Grimm's research focuses on the resources available to the poor.

'My research focuses on small and medium enterprises in developing countries that have limited or no access to capital, consultancy services or any other form of professional support. The central question is how networks can be established that link these firms with each other, but also with investors, banks, government institutions and other actors – both within their own countries and abroad. Ultimately, the aim is to reduce information asymmetries and to reduce existing market segmentations. I plan to further develop my research together with colleagues from other disciplines, which may allow for expansion towards entirely new research areas.'

Related research

Professor Grimm is an internationally renowned expert in development economics, who has conducted various field studies on the effects of technological change in developing countries.

More on Professor Michael Grimm’s research

Research Stories

A team of economists from the University of Passau has shown how Facebook ads can be used to identify people at risk of developing diabetes in Indonesia.

Drawing on an analysis of historical data, we show that the birth control clinics of the US-American women rights advocate Margaret Sanger had a massive impact on health at the beginning of the 20th century. By Professors Bauernschuster and Grimm

Experts devoted themselves to this question at a symposium held at the University of Passau. Their conclusion: Yes, palm oil can be produced in a sustainable manner – if the local small-scale farmers become an integral part of the process.

Dr Edward Asiedu from Ghana experienced poverty in his childhood. Now he is researching ways to effectively combat it. In this interview with Professor Grimm, he reveals what he hopes to gain from his stay in Passau.

What motivates Indonesian farmers to convert to organic farming in the long-term? A team of economists from the University of Passau is exploring whether digital technology and knowledge can help protect the environment and reduce poverty.

The Research Training Group "Digital Platform Ecosystems" will be the University’s pivotal hub for leading-edge, international, and interdisciplinary research and advanced academic qualifications around a central phenomenon of the digital economy.

Ingmar Weber is going to be Michael Grimm’s guest in our distinguished keynote series ‘Digital Platform Ecosystems’. He will explain how data from online platforms can be used to answer demographic questions.

In the distinguished keynote series 'Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)', internationally outstanding researchers have presented their latest findings.

In the pandemic, younger people are making sacrifices out of solidarity with the older generation. Why doesn't that work the other way round in the climate crisis? Student Janina Körber asked researchers at the University of Passau.

A research team at the University of Passau has investigated whether agriculture in Indonesia can be largely converted to organic farming. One of the results shows that it is important to find influential farmers who promote change.

Professor Michael Grimm

Related research

Research Stories

Using Facebook ads for early diabetes diagnosis

How birth control impacted maternal and infant mortality rates

Can palm oil be sustainable?

First PICAIS fellow explores instruments to break poverty cycle in Ghana

Knowledge and digitalisation: how sustainable agriculture in Indonesia can succeed

New DFG Research Training Group to be established at the University of Passau

Monitoring international development with advertising data

#PassauDPE: Distinguished keynote series on 'Digital Platform Ecosystems'

Before us, the deluge

Organic farming in Indonesia: eco-influencers make all the difference