Economist and professor of Spatial Economics at the Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly. He has published widely in the fields of urban and regional economics, development, structural change, integration and regional policy.

He holds a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Arizona State University (USA) and has a research and publication record that includes more than 25 books and edited volumes and more than 200 articles in journals and books. Journals include Regional Studies, Annals of Regional Science, Environment and Planning, Papers in Regional Science, Cambridge Journal of Regions Economy and Society, International Regional Science Review, European Urban and Regional Studies, European Planning Studies, Regional Science Policy and Practice, Journal of Economic Studies, Growth and Change, etc.

He has been the Director of the Development Policy Laboratory (DPL), University of Thessaly, since 2021 and the Director of the Regional Economic Analysis Laboratory (REAL) since 1996. DPL and REAL have supported a large number of Ph.D. students and post-doctorate students with funding and have been very active in securing and implementing high quality research projects and studies with a total budget that exceeds 10 million euros.

He has also served as the Rector of the University of Thessaly (2014-18), Dean of the Engineering School, University of Thessaly, 2023-24, Chair of the Department of Planning and Regional Development (3 terms: 2000-02, 2002-04 and 2008-10), European Research Council (ERC) Expert participating in the evaluation of Starting Grants (2022, 2024, 2026), Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, Department of Geography and Environment (2000 and 2019), Vice- President of the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) (2007-11), Secretary General for Investment and Development in the Ministry of Development, (2010-12), President of the JESSICA and JEREMIE Investment Funds (2010-12) and Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Development Bank (2018-19).