Alexander B. Hammer
Alexander Hammer has been an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs since January 2020. In August of 2020, he was appointed Director and Senior Economist of the International Trade Administration’s Economic Analysis Unit, where he has been leading a team of economists in their analysis of market conditions and economic developments in China and other emerging/transition countries. Prior to that, Alex served at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for fifteen years. He spent most of his time there as a Lead Economist (and Senior Economist before that) in the Office of Economics, where he headed the agency’s China Research Program, led multiple economic studies on contemporary issues in trade (e.g., advanced-technology trade, economic effects of government-supported innovation initiates, economy-wide impact analysis of intellectual property right violations), and served as Economics Editor and Editor-in-Chief for two USITC publications. Prof. Hammer also spent a third of his 15-year USITC tenure on detail/sabbatical as Deputy Chief of Staff. In that capacity, he provided executive leadership and management support and direction for the Chairman, its other Commissioners, and senior-most leadership. Alex’s other professional experiences have included a five-year tenure in the International Monetary Fund’s Asia and Pacific Department, where he analyzed economic developments in China and other transition/emerging economies for the institution’s Art IV consultation reports. Prof. Hammer also worked at the Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates for three years, and at the French Senate, Royal Institute for International Affairs, and United Nations Association for shorter durations of time.
In addition to teaching a course on “The Economics of U.S.-China Trade” at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Prof. Hammer is a frequent lecturer at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, where he has taught U.S. diplomates and commercial service officers about the fundamental of the Chinese economy and U.S.-China economic relations. Alex earned his BA from Brandeis University and the London School of Economics, his MA in economics and China studies at the John Hopkins SAIS program, and his MBA from Duke University. He is passionate about his research on U.S.-China trade conditions and China’s ownership reform, mentoring students from a variety of disciplines, and spending time with his family.
The U.S.-China Economic (Trade, Investment, Innovation) Relationship;
China’s Modern Economic Development and Uneven Transition;
China’s Ownership Reform (Role of State, Private, and Foreign Enterprises).
The Economics of U.S.-China Trade
“Is China In a High-Tech, Low-Productivity Trap?” with Shahid Yusef, USITC’s Working Paper Series, July 2020.
“What’s Unique About China's Trade with the United States? A Multi-Dimensional Perspective Using China’s Customs Data” with Ujjwall Uppuluri, USITC’s Working Paper Series, July 2020.
“How Big Is China’s BRI-Related OFDI Spending & Where Is It Going?” with Trevor Litwin, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, July 2020.
“Exporting U.S. Innovative Capacity to China? A Case Study of Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment”, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)’s China’s Uneven High-Tech Drive-Implications for the United States (edited by Scott Kennedy), March 2020.
“The Mysterious Divergence In China's Productivity And Innovation Patterns,” with Jennifer Bernard, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, September, 2019.
“U.S. Soybean Exports to China Crushed Amid Rising Trade Frictions,” with Justin Choe and Christopher Montgomery, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, August 2019.
“Does China Still Have a Debt Problem?” with Nabil Abbyad, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, September 2018.
“State-Owned Enterprises Are Playing Strategic Role in China’s External Sector” with Lin Jones, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, Jan 2018.
" ‘Made in China 2025’Attempts to Re-Stimulate Domestic Innovation,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, August 2017.
“The Size and Composition of U.S. Manufacturing Offshoring to China,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, June 2017.
“Why Have U.S. Firms Offshored to China?” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, June 2017.
"Implications of China’s Rebalancing on China, the United States, and the Bilateral Economic Relationship" Co-authored with Robert Koopman, Lin Jones, and Marinos Tsigas. Conference Proceedings for Global Trade Analysis Project, April 2014.
"A Methodology for Reconciling U.S.-China-Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Flows," with Lin Jones and Zhi Wang, USITC’s Working Paper Series, August 2013.
“Are U.S. Exports Influenced by Stronger IPR Protection Measures in Recipient Markets?” with Tani Fukui and Lin Jones. Elsevier’s Business Horizons, April 2013.
“China’s Trade and Investment Relationship with Africa,” with Lin Jones. USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, December 2012.
“China’s Dominance as a Global Consumer and Producer of Copper,” with Lin Jones. USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, August 2012.
“China’s Emerging Role as a Global Source of FDI,” with Lin Jones, USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, January 2012.
“Overview of U.S.-China Trade in Advanced Technology Products,” with Robert Koopman and Andrew Martinez, Journal of Economic Commerce and Economics, May 2011.
“China: Effects of Intellectual Property Infringement and Indigenous Innovation Policies on the U.S. Economy–Study 2,” Executive Summary and Chapter 1. USITC Investigation 332-519, May 2011.
“Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Overview of Participation in U.S. Exports.” Executive Summary and Chapter 1 (Introduction). USITC Investigation 332-508, January 2010.
“Dynamism & Diversity in U.S.-BRIC Trade,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, August 2009.
“China’s Growth Recession and Policy Response,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, March 2009.
“U.S.-China Trade, Quarterly Bulletin (,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, December 2008.
"State and Market Influences in China’s Industrial Sector,” USITC’s Executive Briefings on Trade, October 2008.
“China: Description of Government Practices and Policies Affecting Decision Making in the Economy," Co-authored “Industrial Development, Rationalization, & Private Ownership”, “Structural Economic Changes”. Inv.332-492, December 2007.
“China’s Exports of Advanced Technology Products to the U.S.” and “U.S. Exports of Advanced Technology Products to China” with Robert Koopman and Andrew Martinez. USITC Working Paper, October 2009.
"Medical Devices and Equipment: Competitive Conditions Affecting U.S. Trade in Japan and Other Principal Foreign Markets,” USITC Inv. 332-474, March 2007.
“Distinctive Patterns & Prospects in China-Latin America Trade, 1999-2005,” with Jim Kilpatrick. USITC’s Journal for International Commerce and Economics, September 2006.
"The Dynamic Structure of U.S.-China Trade, 1995-2004," USITC’s Working Paper Series, July 2006.
“External Sector Developments and Trade Policies” with Christopher Towe. India-Recent Economic Developments (Chapter 6), “IMF Country Report” 01/181, October 2001.
“Foreign Exchange Market Developments and Policies,” with Ranil Salgado. India-Recent Economic Developments (Chapter-2), “IMF Country Report” 01/181, October 2001.
“An Econometric Analysis of Development Dynamics in Modern Chinese Industry,” Annals of Operations Research, August 2006.