Dr Diego Morris

Dr Diego Morris

Department of Management
Assistant Professor of Industrial Economics

Contact details

Address
Department of Management
Birmingham Business School
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr. Diego Morris is an Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham's Business School, specializing in innovation economics, enterprise, and climate change. He holds a PhD and MRes in Economics from the University of Manchester and has an extensive academic background, including teaching and research roles at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Strathclyde. His research focuses on the intersection of global economic shifts and innovation, particularly in developing economies. Dr. Morris has published in several high-impact journals and actively integrates his research into his teaching, aiming to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world applications.

Qualifications

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE)
  • PhD Economics
  • MRes Economics
  • MSc Business and Financial Economics
  • BSc Economics and Statistics 

Biography

Dr. Diego Morris specializes in innovation economics, enterprise, and climate change. Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham's Business School, Diego’s expertise lies in examining how economic innovation intersects with global environmental challenges. He holds a PhD and MRes in Economics from the University of Manchester, UK, as well as an MSc in Business and Financial Economics and a BSc (First Class Honors) in Economics and Statistics from the University of the West Indies. 

Before joining the University of Birmingham, Dr. Morris held several academic positions, most notably as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University in the Department of Economics. There, he taught and developed curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in macroeconomics, econometrics, and statistics. His teaching career also includes roles as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Strathclyde and the University of Manchester. 

In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Morris has significant experience in policy development and project management. He served as an Innovation and Competitiveness consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) where he led projects aimed at enhancing productivity, innovation, and access to finance in developing economies, particularly across the Caribbean as part of the Compete Caribbean Program, which he helped to design. His hands-on experience in these roles has provided him with deep insights into the economic dynamics of emerging markets, positioning him as a valuable contributor to both academic research and policy development. 

Diego’s research portfolio includes numerous peer-reviewed publications that focus on the nexus of innovation, economic development, and climate change. His work delves into critical issues such as the role of technological innovation in emerging markets, the economic implications of energy demand shocks, and the impact of climate finance on entrepreneurship in developing countries. He is currently engaged in a range of ongoing research projects, many of which aim to provide a better understanding of complex environmental and economic challenges.

Teaching

Diego is currently teaching:

(1)   Globalisation, Innovation and Competitiveness (UG)

(2)   Strategically Understanding the Business Environment (PG)

(3)   Sustainable Innovation (PG)

Postgraduate supervision

Supervises doctoral students using applied econometrics techniques to assess microlevel issues related innovation, entrepreneurship, climate change, and energy.

Research

Research interests

  • Innovation Economics: Focusing on the impact of technological innovation on economic growth, particularly in developing economies and emerging markets. 
  • Enterprise Development: Exploring the dynamics of entrepreneurship, access to finance, and how innovation drives productivity within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 
  • Climate Change and Economics: Investigating the intersection of climate finance, sustainable development, and the economic implications of climate change on global and local economies. 
  • Energy Economics: Analysing the effects of energy demand and supply shocks on innovation and economic policy. 
  • Global Trade and Development: Examining how shifts in global trade, such as China’s dominance in clean energy, influences innovation in less developed regions.

Publications

(1)   Matias Cortes & Diego Morris. “Are Routine Jobs Moving South? Changes in Occupational Composition of Employment in the U.S. and Mexico.” Journal of Human Capital, Forthcoming.

(2)   King Yoong Lim & Diego Morris (2024). “Innovation and Spillover Effects of Energy Demand Shocks in Belt and Road Economies.” The Energy Journal, Early View.

(3)   Preeya Mohan & Diego Morris (2024). “Climate Finance Spillovers and Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries.” The Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Early View.

(4)   King Yoong Lim & Diego Morris (2023). “Business Optimism and the Innovation-Profitability Nexus: Introducing the COVID-19 Adaptable Capacity Framework.” Research Policy, Volume 52 (1), 104623.

(5)   King Yoong Lim & Diego Morris (2022). “Learning Before and After the Global Crisis: Firm-level Innovation in Latin America.” International Journal of Finance & Economics, Volume 28 (4).

(6)   King Yoong Lim & Diego Morris (2022). “Thresholds in Natural Resource Rents and State-Owned Enterprise Profitability: Cross Country Evidence.” Energy Economics, Volume 106, 105779.

(7)   King Yoong Lim & Diego Morris (2020). “The Economics of the Illicit Drugs-for-Guns Trade and Growth.” Economic Modelling, Volume 91 (c), 218-232.

(8)   Diego Morris (2018). “Innovation and Productivity among Heterogeneous Firms.” Research Policy, Volume 47 (10), 1918-1932.

View all publications in research portal