“Why does growth stagnate in some countries, whereas other economies grow dynamically? I am interested in the roles played by trade, industrial policy, and novel technologies. In my research, I combine granular and often historical data with trade theory to extend our empirical understanding of growth and trade. My job market paper exemplifies my research agenda: I study the last outbreak of the plague in Northern Europe as a natural experiment leading to labour scarcity. Using bilateral trade data, I show that, surprisingly, market shares expand after the plague. I argue that productivity growth is the most suitable explanation for this. My paper therefore shows that labour scarcity can lead to productivity growth.”