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Prof. Ralph Ossa

UBS Foundation Professor of Economics

Discover Prof. Ralph Ossa on

Ralph Ossa, who served as Chief Economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from January 2023 to June 2025, took up the UBS Foundation Professorship of Economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Zurich (UZH) as of July 1, 2025. Before joining the WTO, Ralph Ossa was already teaching and conducting research at UZH in the field of international economics, with a particular focus on policy-relevant questions. He was chairman of the Department of Economics from 2019 to 2022 and coeditor of the Journal of International Economics from 2016 to 2022. Prior to Zurich, he was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Interests

Macroeconomics, International Trade

UBS Foundation Professor of Economics

Prof. Ralph Ossa

Discover Prof. Ralph Ossa on

Ralph Ossa, who served as Chief Economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from January 2023 to June 2025, took up the UBS Foundation Professorship of Economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Zurich (UZH) as of July 1, 2025. Before joining the WTO, Ralph Ossa was already teaching and conducting research at UZH in the field of international economics, with a particular focus on policy-relevant questions. He was chairman of the Department of Economics from 2019 to 2022 and coeditor of the Journal of International Economics from 2016 to 2022. Prior to Zurich, he was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Interests

Macroeconomics, International Trade

Selected publications

Research

Ralph Ossa's research focuses on international economics with a particular emphasis on questions of policy relevance. His work has included studies on the economics of trade wars and trade negotiations, as well as estimates of the gains countries derive from international trade. For example, he has explored the economics of trade wars and trade talks and estimated how much countries gain from international trade. For his project “Deep Integration Agreements,” Ossa received an ERC Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council.

Ralph Ossa's research focuses on international economics with a particular emphasis on questions of policy relevance. His work has included studies on the economics of trade wars and trade negotiations, as well as estimates of the gains countries derive from international trade. For example, he has explored the economics of trade wars and trade talks and estimated how much countries gain from international trade. For his project “Deep Integration Agreements,” Ossa received an ERC Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council.

Ralph Ossa on Google Scholarbrowse

Videos

In the media

Quotes

Die WTO bleibt der Grundpfeiler der Welthandels­architektur.
Tages-Anzeiger, 10.7.2025
Die Welthandelsorganisation WTO hat in ihrer Frühjahrsprognose ausgerechnet, dass Unsicherheit das Wachstum des Güterhandels um 0.5 Prozentpunkte reduziert. Das ist ein erheblicher Schaden.
SRF News, 8.7.2025
Finding a solution with the US is important, but it’s even more important to avoid harm to the remaining 87% of global trade.
UZH News, 2.7.2025
We are at a crossroads for the global economy.
WEF Radio Davos, 30.01.2025
Wer sich auf seine Unabhängigkeit konzentriert, investiert in seine Schwächen.
NZZ, 03.01.2025
Der Klimawandel wird nur dann vernünftig zu bekämpfen sein, wenn die Türen offen bleiben. Der Handel dient dazu, die grünen Technologien in der Welt zu verbreiten und deren Wirksamkeit zu verstärken.
FAZ, 01.09.2023

Images

Contact

Personal

Phone:

EMail:

ralph.ossa@econ.uzh.ch

Support Staff

Name:

Michèle Himmelrich

Phone:

+41 44 634 55 78

EMail:

michele.himmelrich@econ.uzh.ch

Office hours:

Monday - Thursday

Address

University of Zurich

Department of Economics, Schönberggasse 1, 8001 Zürich
(Google Maps)