Austin Hooe, Ph. D. -- The New Geopolitics of International Trade

The Interdisciplinary Studies Guest Speaker Series continues in the Mullen & James Humanities Hall with Professor Austin Hooe, Ph. D. presenting on the new geopolitics of international trade. The talk will examine how shifting geopolitical relationships are reshaping international trade and the global economy. This event is presented by Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Studies. This event concludes the Fall 2026 Interdisciplinary Studies Guest Speaker Series. Additional events included a discussion by Professor Saman Majeed, Ph. D. on September 17 and a presentation from Guest Speaker David Firestein on September 30. About Austin Hooe, Ph. D. Austin Hooe is an economist whose research lies at the intersection of international trade, foreign direct investment, and geoeconomics. His agenda centers on understanding how the policy objectives of governments--like sanctions, security concerns, and migration policy--reshape global patterns of trade, capital allocation, and firm behavior. He is particularly interested in how firms and markets adapt to policy-induced disruptions, and how economic statecraft influences global production networks. Dr. Hooe's current projects examine: (1) how immigration enforcement influences mergers and acquisitions in labor-intensive sectors like agriculture and construction; (2) the unintended consequences of anti-money laundering laws on cross-border investment flows; and (3) how multinational firms use capital investments to bypass trade restrictions. His work draws on large-scale, high-resolution datasets--including firm-level investment records, trade flows, and sanction events--and employs gravity modeling, quasi-experimental methods, and structural analysis to isolate causal effects. He is passionate about making complex global economic issues accessible to students. Dr. Hooe enjoys mentoring students on independent research projects and helping them connect international economics to real-world policy challenges, including sanctions, tariffs, and global supply chain resilience. Outside of work, Dr. Hooe is an avid runner, a dedicated home cook and restaurant explorer, and a proud husband. Accessibility UNC Asheville is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. If you have any questions about access or would like to request reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the film screenings, please contact Stephanie Bullick, Director of Accessibility, at [email protected].