Dr. Thorkil Casse | Environmental economics | Best Researcher Award
Kyushu University | Japan
Author Profile
🎓 Early academic pursuits
Thorkil Casse began his academic journey with a strong foundation in economics and development studies. he earned a diplôme d'études approfondies from paris i, panthéon-sorbonne in 1981, followed by an m.sc. in economics from the university of copenhagen in 1982. his academic curiosity led him to explore macroeconomic frameworks, culminating in a ph.d. from aalborg university in 1998. his doctoral research focused on macro-economic stabilization and industrial policy in developing economies such as south korea, mexico, and vanuatu, signaling an early commitment to global socio-economic systems.
🧑🏫 Professional endeavors
As an associate professor emeritus at the institute of social sciences and business (ise), roskilde university, and a visiting professor at kyushu university, faculty of agriculture, japan, casse has maintained a notable presence in the academic world. until july 2023, he served as the head of the study board of ise’s international programs, led the epic research group, and contributed to the design of a new socio-economics educational program. his roles positioned him to influence both academic structure and international collaboration.
🔬 Contributions and research focus
Casse’s research has revolved around climate change, environmental governance, and economic development in the global south, particularly in asia and africa. his major projects, all Environmental economics externally funded, include impactful studies on the environmental state under authoritarian regimes, community forest governance in madagascar, and climate-induced disasters in vietnam. notably, the project titled ‘redd+ – the forest grab?’ engaged international partners from europe and asia, reflecting his ability to bridge socio-environmental research with applied economic policies—a principle applicable in evaluating developmental trade-offs in fields such as power electronics and renewable energy planning.
🌍 Impact and influence
Casse’s work has had significant policy and academic impact. as the ruc representative on the ipbes danish steering committee and danish delegate to the 2022 ipbes plenary session in bonn, he influenced national and international discourses on biodiversity and climate governance. his interdisciplinary work has often informed discussions where power electronics are Environmental economics relevant, particularly in the deployment of smart energy systems and green transitions within authoritarian regimes managing environmental transformations.
📚 Academic cites
Thorkil Casse’s publications and collaborative projects have gained academic traction, frequently cited in journals spanning development studies, political ecology, and environmental Environmental economics economics. his focus on southeast asia and africa contributes unique empirical insights to academic literature, especially in analyzing how economic systems adapt to environmental pressures—insights also indirectly informing technical fields like power electronics, especially in the context of infrastructure planning and socio-technical transitions in emerging economies.
🌟 Legacy and future contributions
As an emeritus professor, casse continues to influence future generations through mentoring and academic collaboration. his interdisciplinary approach—blending economics, climate studies, and institutional analysis—offers a lasting blueprint for navigating sustainability challenges. future contributions may arise through comparative work on climate resilience in authoritarian contexts or co-developing frameworks for integrating socio-economic analysis into technical domains, including those underpinning power electronics infrastructure in climate-vulnerable regions.
Notable Publications
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Title: Actor-centered power and forest governance: Can a conceptual framework help us understand the conflict in managing national parks in Vietnam?
Author(s): Nhinh Thi Do, Thorkil Casse, Ta Viet Ton
Journal: Forest Policy and Economics, 2025 -
Title: Hydropower Plant Construction and Resettlement in Nghệ An, Vietnam: An Example of State Coercive Methods in Practice?
Author(s): Nhinh Thi Do, Thorkil Casse, Gvantsa Gverdtsiteli, Kimihiko Hyakumura
Journal: Sociology of Development, 2023