Martijn conducts research at the intersection of economics and political science (political economy) and teaches in the Politics, Philosophy, & Economics (PPE) bachelor program. His focus area is the European Union (EU). He mainly works on EU trade policy, for instance through the lens of the protection and trade of EU regional specialty foods (geographical indications) such as Parma ham and Gouda Holland. He also studies EU institutional design (Article 50/Brexit, Role of national parliaments and Early Warning System).

In 2020, he was elected a member of the Utrecht Young Academy (UYA). His research has been cited in EU-wide (The Guardian, Politico.eu, LSE EUROPP Blog, Agra-Facts), Dutch (NPO Radio 1, NRC, nu.nl, RD, Quest), and Belgian media (De Standaard, De Morgen, De Tijd, Het Nieuwsblad).

Martijn obtained his PhD at KU Leuven (2018) and has been on research stays at Stanford University (2015) and LUISS Rome (2022).

Textbook “The Microeconomics of Market Failures and Institutions”

With Coen Teulings, I wrote a textbook “The Microeconomics of Market Failures and Institutions", which is forthcoming at Palgrave.

“An exciting and crystal clear text book on institutions. Its interdisciplinary approach is exceptional, expanding the reader’s perspective while preserving the analytical precision and rigor of economics.”  — Jonathan Schultz, George Mason University, affiliate of Harvard’s Culture, Cognition, and Coevolution Laboratory

“In the last few decades, the field of economics has been transformed by interdisciplinary research on how institutions and culture shape economic and political outcomes. This wonderful book is the first systematic and accessible exposition of these new insights. It is much more than a textbook, and it will be a precious companion to anyone who seeks a deep understanding of the historical roots of modern economies.” — Guido Tabellini, Bocconi University, co-author of the book “The Economic of Effects of Constitutions”

Now available for pre-order here (expected delivery May 2025)

TEDx-talk "Cheese, Love, and Understanding"

Do you know the difference between Feta and white cheese? Chances are you don’t - but even if you do, can’t we all use some more “cheese, love, and understanding?" Find out more about Europe’s gastronomic heritage, the economics of asymmetric information, and the importance of coming together through the prism of Roquefort and Halloumi in the TEDx talk below.