Thomas Peeters appointed as Professor of Strategy Economics at Erasmus School of Economics

A research agenda at the frontier of sports and innovation

Thomas Peeters’ research examines strategic behaviour and labour markets in high-skill industries, particularly professional sports and innovation-driven sectors. His recent publications in leading international journals have explored topics such as managerial impact in Major League Baseball, migration and learning in international soccer, the role of inventors versus firms in innovation, and labour market dynamics among superstar workers.

Over the coming years, Peeters will further expand this research programme, targeting top journals in management, labour economics, organisational economics, and industrial organisation. Several projects are already underway, including studies on high-wage worker mobility, racial disparities in managerial careers, promotions in college football, and externalities of firms in financial distress. 

A flagship initiative within the chair is the expansion of the ECASE Football Finance Database, an open-access resource containing harmonised financial data from hundreds of European football clubs. Developed within the Erasmus Centre for Applied Sports Economics (ECASE), the database serves researchers, journalists, and policymakers, and evolves through collaborative data contributions.

Innovative and engaged education

Education is a cornerstone of the new chair. Peeters continues teaching and coordinating the interdisciplinary Minor Sports and Society and the elective Sports Economics, developed in collaboration with colleagues from other schools within Erasmus University Rotterdam. The programme offers a holistic perspective on sports-related societal issues and regularly hosts guest speakers from industry. He will also further develop the MSc specialisation and BSc major in strategy economics, while exploring new course offerings on empirical research in strategy and innovation for doctoral training programmes.

Societal impact and public engagement

Thomas Peeters’ field of research naturally attracts public attention. He has previously received the school’s Societal Impact Award and is frequently consulted by national and international media as an expert on sports economics and labour markets.

Peeters continues serving as Director of the Department of Applied Economics. In this leadership role, he focuses on strengthening multidisciplinary research, promoting societal engagement, implementing Open and Responsible Science principles, and addressing gender imbalances in senior academic positions.