Kadri is an economic geographer specialising in regional economic development and labour markets. Her research interests include labour mobility and skills (especially skill relatedness), structural change and regional path development, innovation policy, network studies and complex systems. In addition, she has an interest and professional experience in policy analysis and evaluation.
Senior Research Fellow
Kadri Kuusk
Spatial Story
I was born and raised in Tallinn, in a neighbourhood surrounded by pine forests – an ideal setting for running, orienteering, and cross country skiing. For my undergraduate studies in Economics, I moved to Tartu. A much smaller place, yet one with an academic atmosphere that fully lives up to its reputation as the university town of Estonia.
After graduating, I returned to Tallinn for a few years. At the time, the city was a vibrant hub of opportunity, buzzing with entrepreneurial energy. I thoroughly enjoyed my work and learned immensely in such a dynamic environment. Still, I began to crave deeper academic insight, which led me to my next destination: the beautiful college town of Ann Arbor, where I pursued master’s studies in Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
During my two years there, my roommate introduced me to the world of complexity and complex systems. I was immediately captivated. Little did I know that years later – after another round of master’s studies and hearing once again about emergence, scale, and complexity – this curiosity would lead me to pursue doctoral studies in economic geography at Lund University. However, my workdays are often spent a bit further north. First during my postdoc years in Gothenburg and now at Nordregio in Stockholm.
Publications
Kuusk, K. & Henning, M. (2025) “The skill overlap between growing and declining jobs, and how it matters for people who move between”, Centre for Regional Analysis, Working Paper 2025: 2
Kuusk, K. (2021) “On Inter-Industry Relatedness and Regional Economic Development”, Lunds Universitet
Kuusk, K. (2021) “Regional Differences in How Related Variety ‘Works’: The Case of Labour Mobility”, European Planning Studies 29 (10), 1951-1973. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2021.1903398
Kuusk, K. & Martynovich, M. (2020) “Dynamic Nature of Relatedness, or What Kind of Related Variety for Long‐Term Regional Growth”, Tijdschrift Voor Economische en Sociale Geografie 112 (1), 81-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12427
Kuusk, K. (2019) “Overview of Regional Growth Theories and Factors Influencing Regional Income Convergence”, Foresight Center, Estonian Parliament
Pihor, K., Kuusk, K. et al (2017) “Impact Assessment of EU-funded Transport Investments”, PRAXIS
Kirss, L., Kuusk, K., Rozeik, H. & Haaristo, H.-S (2014) “National Policies for International Talent Attraction and Retention in Estonia”, PRAXIS
Kuusk, K. (2013) “Restructuring of Linette” in “Restructuring in SMEs in Europe”, Eurofound
Kuusk, K. (2012) “Experimental Economic Policy”, Estonian Development Fund, Provocation Paper 2/2012
Sikkut, S., Kuusk, K., Kubo, K. & Terk, E. (2012) “Scenarios 2018: Four Stories of Possible Futures of Estonian Economy”, Estonian Development Fund, Estonian Focus 9/2012
Kuusk, K. & Jürgenson, A. (2007) “Impact Assessment of Estonia’s Business Support Measures”, PRAXIS Working Paper 32/2007
Kuusk, K. & Tatar, M. (2007) “Methodology and Analysis of Estonian National Development Plan 2004-2006 Impact Indicators”, Ministry of Finance
Kuusk, K. (2007) “Evaluation of Training Grant”, PRAXIS Working Paper 37/2007
