Smulders' research examines the impact of environmental and energy policies on economic growth as well as the sources of economic growth in a variety of contexts. He has analysed under what conditions economic growth can be sustained without deteriorating environmental quality. Recent work has focused on the question whether the stimulation of technological change can reduce the cost of environmental policies in general and the cost of climate change and energy conservation policies in particular. Ongoing projects study the role of consumption and habits for growth and environment. Most of the work is based on small analytical models in the endogenous growth tradition. Other interests include public economics, economic history, and international trade.

• Leibniz-Professur Winter Semester 2018-2019, Leipzig University.
• Present Full Professor of Economics Tilburg University, since April 2006 (on leave  2006-2008)
• Adjunct Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, University of Calgary, since December 2008.  
• Full Professor of Economics and Svare Chair of Energy Systems Analysis, Department of Economics and Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and the Economy, University of Calgary, 2006-2008
• Associate Professor of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Tilburg University, April 2001 to April 2006 (tenured as of May 2002).
• Fellow Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), April 1999 to March 2004
• Fellow Netherlands Network of Economics (NAKE), 1998 to present.
• Fellow CentER Graduate School, Tilburg University, September 1994 to present.
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics, Stanford University, USA, September 1995 to June 1996
• Assistant Professor of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Tilburg University, May 1994 to March 2001

Sjak Smulders has taught Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Growth theory, Environmental economics, Trade, Economy and culture (in the Liberal Arts programm) at Bachelor, MSc, and Research Master level. He served as Academic Director of the Tilburg MSc Economics program in 2010-2017. He was also a member of the University Teaching Qualification committee.

Click here for my courses.

Thesis supervision

• Claudio Baccianti. “Essays in Economic Growth and Climate Policy” PhD defence November 2021.
• Sophie Lian Zhou. PhD defence November 27, 2020. “Innovation and the Macro-Economy” (Sophie is currently at Deutsche Bundesbank)
• Dorothee Hillrichs. “On inequality and international trade” PhD defence 23 September 2020.
• Inge van den Bijgaart. Essays in Environmental Economics. 2016. (currently at Gothenborg University)

• Mauricio Rodriguez-Acosta. Essays in Political Economy and Resource Economics. 2016. (currently at Rosario, Bogota).

• Ali Motavasseli. Essays in Environmental Policy and Household Economics. 2016.

• Mahsa Jahan Dideh. Essays on Public Economics. 2016.

• Malik Curuk. Essays on Economic Growth and International Trade. 2014 (currently at Bogazici University).

• Gerard van der Meijden. The Macroeconomic Dynamics of Trade Liberalization, Resource Exploitation, and Backstop Technologies. 2013. (Gerard is currently at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

• Christian Bogmans. Essays on International Trade and the Environment. 2011. (currently at IMF, Washington)

• Armando Zavaleta Government, Lobbies, International Cooperation and the Environment, University of Calgary December 2011 (co-supervisor; Joanne Roberts supervisor)

• Itzi Lazkano. University of Calgary, Intergenerational externalities, Economic Growth and the Environment. 2011 (co-supervisor; Francisco Gonzales supervisor; Itzi is currently at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee).

• Piotr Stryszowski. Essays on Growth and Migration. 2009. (currently at OECD, Paris).

• Juan Moreno-Cruz. Essays on the economics of Geoengineering 2009 (currently at Georgia Tech)

• Edwin van der Werf Climate change policy and endogenous technological change. 2008 (currently at Wageningen Research University)

• Corrado Di Maria Choosing the direction: Essays on Directed Technical Change, Trade and the Environment 2006. (currently at University of East Anglia)

• Martin Kahanec Essays on Social Interaction and Earnings Inequality 2006. (currently at Central European University, Budapest)