Robert H. Wilson is Mike Hogg Professor of Urban Policy in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches in areas of local and state economic development policy, urban policy in developing countries, and econometrics. His research activities are in the areas of local and state development strategies, community participation in state and local policymaking, telecommunications and development, and public policy in Brazil. He was Assistant Dean at the LBJ School from 1980 through 1983, served as the coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Public Policy from 1991 through 1994, and currently is Deputy Director. Before coming to the LBJ School, he taught at the Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil. He has served as a principal researcher on projects and grants from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ford Foundation, National Science Foundation, Fulbright Commission, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Texas Telephone Association, and Toms Rivera Center. He has also served on projects or consulted for the Economic Research Service of USDA, United Nations Development Program, Organization of American States, Urban Institute, National Research Council, Texas Legislative Education Board, and Texas Historical Commission.
Ph.D.
in City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania, 1979
M.A.
in City and Regional Planning; Regional Science, University of Pennsylvania, 1974
M.S.
in Industrial Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1972
B.S.
in Industrial Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1971
Urban and regional economic development; urban policy; technology policy; telecommunications policy; urban governance in developing countries; decentralized policymaking; the impact technological change on urban and regional economies
Consultant,
Expert Group on Metropolitan Planning, UNHabitat (2013)
Member,
Editorial Board, Regional Studies, Regional Science (2013 - Present)
Member,
Editorial Board, Revista de Administração Pública (2012 - Present)
Member,
Editorial Board, e-metropolis: Revista Eletrônica de Estudos Urbanos e Regionais (2010 - Present)
Member,
International Mission to Assess Regional Development Strategy, Braganca, Portugal (2003)
Member,
Assessment of Small Business Innovation Research Program, National Academy of Sciences (1999)
Member,
Policy Council, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (1991 - 1995)
Consultant,
Development Program, United Nations (1990)
Public Policy Scholar
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2011)
National Order of the Southern Cross, Rank of Commander
- By the decree of the President of Brazil (2003)
Fulbright/FLAD Chair in Knowledge Management Policies
- Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa (2000)
Philips International Visiting Chair
- Getulio Vargas Foundation, São Paulo, Brazil (1999)
Teaching Excellence Awards
- LBJ School of Public Affairs (1997)
Elspeth Rostow Centennial Fellowship
- LBJ School of Public Affairs (1986 - 1989)
