Prof. Dr. Patrick Vanhoudt

Patrick Vanhoudt completed his studies in economics at the Catholic University of Leuven and the Jesuit University of Antwerp, graduating with first-class honours: a master’s degree cum laude and a doctorandus degree (MSc) summa cum laude. In 1994, he was awarded a prestigious doctoral fellowship by the Belgian Science Foundation, which enabled him to undertake his PhD research at the University of California, Berkeley. As a visiting Fulbright Scholar, he gained invaluable insights there from leading economists such as Paul and David Romer, and George Akerlof. His postdoctoral research, also supported by the Belgian Science Foundation, focused on sustainable long-run economic growth, resulting in several publications in top-ranked, peer-reviewed journals.

With nearly thirty years of distinguished experience in both academia and the wider field of applied economics, Patrick Vanhoudt’s career has spanned various esteemed institutions. He began his professional journey at the International Monetary Fund before joining the Stockholm School of Economics as a professor in 1998. The following year, he moved to the chief economist’s office at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, where he conducted research and provided  advice on economic growth and regional policy, including to its governing bodies. He maintained his association with the Catholic University of Leuven as a visiting professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business until 2006, when he was honoured with the title of “Fellow of the Hogenheuvel College”.

After the restructuring of the chief economist’s office, Vanhoudt continued his tenure at the European Investment Bank, transitioning to the operational directorate. In this role, he was involved in steering project evaluations and assessing financial intermediaries in support of the EIB’s public policy goals. Additionally, he served as a ghostwriter for Philippe Maystadt, a former President of the EIB, on topics within his academic expertise. Vanhoudt recently retired from the Bank, where he held the position of Principal Adviser.