Matthew Alford

My research interrogates questions of development in the context of globalization, transnational trading networks and labour. More specifically, I focus on the role of nation states in governing sustainability challenges in global value chains, and how public regulations interact with lead-firm driven private codes of conduct and civil society initiatives. My recent work investigates these issues in the context of regional agricultural and garment value chains spanning Sub-Saharan Africa. I earned my PhD in International Development from the Global Development Institute (GDI) and am currently employed as Professor of International Business and Development at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), University of Manchester.