Philip Luck

Director, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Phil Luck

Philip A. Luck is director of the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business. He served in the Biden-Harris administration as the deputy chief economist at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Luck is an expert on the economics of international trade, global supply chains, and international migration policy. He has spent his career in public service, both in government and academia. At the Department of State, Dr. Luck led analytical efforts to combat sanctions and export control evasion, increase global supply chain resilience, combat economic coercion, as well as improve migration policy design and implementation. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of State, Philip was an assistant professor of economics at the University of Colorado, Denver. Dr. Luck’s research focuses on the international organization of production—specifically, how international trade and migration impact the structure of firms, supply chains, demand for skills, labor market dynamics, and aggregate welfare. His research has been published in leading economic journals, including the Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Economic Geography, and Review of International Economics. His work has also been covered in major publications including the New York Times, The Economist, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and RealClear Markets. A devoted teacher, he has taught at Drexel University and Claremont McKenna College as well as the University of Colorado, Denver. He graduated with honors in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and earned MSc and PhD degrees in economics from the University of California, Davis.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

In the News 8 of 45 results

Show More

All Philip Luck Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 80 results

Indo-Pacific Forecast 2026

Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy (GFP) Department's annual preview of political, economic, and security developments across the region.

Event — January 14, 2026

Breaking the Debt Trap: Why Spending Smarter Beats Spending More

In this commentary, Philip Luck and Michael H. Gary argue efficient public spending is the key to unlocking growth in challenging fiscal environments characterized by rising debt and slowing growth.

Commentary by Philip Luck and Michael H. Gary — December 12, 2025

State of Play

Are President Trump's tariffs working?

Navin Girishankar and Phil Luck join Will to discuss President Trump’s foreign policy and economic agendas.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Navin Girishankar, and Philip Luck — November 12, 2025

Photo: iLab/CSIS
The Trade Guys

Tariffs at the Supreme Court, a CS3D Update, and Nvidia Chips to the UAE

Bill and Phil offer their takeaways from this week's Supreme Court oral arguments on the IEEPA tariffs. They also give an update on the progress of the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and discuss Microsoft's receipt of a license to ship thousands of advanced Nvidia AI chips to the UAE.

Podcast Episode by William Alan Reinsch and Philip Luck — November 11, 2025

CSIS The Trade Guys

Australia's Digital Market Regulation: An Evidence-Backed Review

As Canberra considers the best path forward to shape its digital competition policy, it must weigh the existing evidence of ex ante regulation’s impact on product variety, prices, productivity, investment, and innovation.

Blog Post by Philip Luck — November 7, 2025

Federal Statistics For Economic Security

Join the CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department for a workshop on the future of the U.S. federal statistical system—bringing together leaders from government, business, and academia to explore how trusted data can strengthen American economic security and competitiveness.

Event — November 6, 2025

The Trade Guys

Takeaways from Trump's Trip to Asia

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we talk through the outcomes from President Trump's trip to Asia, including negotiations with China, the ROK, and ASEAN.

Podcast Episode by Philip Luck, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — November 4, 2025

CSIS The Trade Guys
The Trade Guys

Shipping Emissions, Pre-APEC Tit For Tat, and U.S. Agriculture Exports

The Trade Guys discuss a vote on rules aimed at lowering carbon emissions from shipping which was called off under U.S. pressure. They also cover expanded rare earth export controls coming out of China and new CSIS findings on the severe impacts of retaliation on U.S. farmers.

Podcast Episode by Philip Luck, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — October 27, 2025

CSIS The Trade Guys