As a researcher, Joost Dankers is particularly interested in the history of Dutch business in an international perspective. Together with Bram Bouwens, he wrote a study on the way in which companies limit mutual competition by means of interest groups, cartels and mergers and acquisitions. This book was part of the research project Business in the Netherlands in the Twentieth Century (BINT) in which he was also involved as project leader.

His contribution to the BINT project was partly based on the extensive experience in business history research that Joost Dankers had built up in previous years. For example, he was involved in studies commissioned by Hoogovens IJmuiden, Rabobank Nederland, the Vereenigde Glasfabrieken and the Dutch Savings Banks. He recently wrote a contribution for a study on Tata Steel Netherlands. In addition, he has published numerous articles in international collections and journals and regularly presents his research at international conferences.

Currently, his research focuses mainly on financial crises, cartel formation in an international perspective and the social significance of historical research in general.