Jonas Nahm

Jonas Nahm, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. As a political economist, Nahm’s research examines how the resurgence of industrial policy is changing the global economy in real time. He is particularly interested in understanding how governments navigate trade-offs between economic competitiveness, resilience, and decarbonization, and the impact of their responses on the architecture of the global economy and firm strategies.

Most recently, Nahm completed a tenure as the Senior Economist for Industrial Strategy on the White House Council of Economic Advisers (2023-2024), where he covered matters pertaining to industrial policy implementation, global trade, and supply chain resilience. 

His book “Collaborative Advantage: Forging Green Industries in the New Global Economy” (Oxford University Press, September 2021), investigates the political economy of innovation and industrial development in global clean tech sectors. This work received the 2023 Best Book on International Political Economy award from the International Studies Association and the 2022 Don K. Price Award for Best Book on Science, Technology, and Politics from the American Political Science Association. Drawing from original interviews, “Collaborative Advantage” provides a shop-floor account of how globalization works in renewable energy industries and presents a new interpretation of the consequences of China’s rise for domestic politics elsewhere.

Nahm has published in numerous prestigious academic journals including Science, Nature, the American Political Science Review, and Perspectives on Politics. His research has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2021 American Political Science Association Award for best paper in public policy.

As a speaker, Nahm offers audiences insights into the transformative economic shifts being driven by the resurgence of industrial strategy around the world. His combination of academic rigor, government experience, and global perspective makes him uniquely positioned to address today’s most significant questions about economic competition, technological innovation, economic fragmentation, and sustainable development in an increasingly complex international landscape.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins SAIS, Nahm was a postdoctoral fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. He holds a Ph.D. in political economy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an MA in political science and Asia-Pacific studies from the University of Toronto, and a BA in social and political sciences from the University of Cambridge. Nahm speaks German and Mandarin Chinese, bringing a truly global perspective to his analysis of pressing questions about the green economy, global trade, and manufacturing in an era of climate change.

Jonas Nahm is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group^®.