My research interests cover broadly developing country firms in the global economy. They include global value chains (entry barriers, governance and standardization), globalization of production and retail, business-state relations, varieties of capitalism, business systems, transition economies, financialization, Chinese business networks, clothing and agribusiness industries, and economic geography. My current research includes a study of food and clothing value chains from Central Asia, and an ongoing comparative study of social movements in the European clothing sector with Florence Palpacuer, University of Montpellier. My work has i.a. been published in World Development, Journal of Economic Geography, Asian Journal of Social Science, and Competition & Change. I have also written book chapters, working papers and policy papers. I have conducted advisory and policy work on Vietnam, Central Asia, Latin America and Africa for Danida, the Danish Africa Commission and the World Bank on business-to-business development programs, aid-for-trade and global value chains.

Thomsen, L. (2011) Russian retailers as drivers of global value chains: Examining the conventions of Russian retailers from a central Asian perspective. Rising Powers and Global Standards network. Working paper No 3. Manchester University. www.risingpowers.net

Thomsen, L (2011) Business-state relations in the differentiated private sector in Vietnam: Access to capital and land. Asian Journal of Social Science 39 (2011) 1-24

Thomsen, L (2010) European Retailers and Global Sourcing Networks. In Skov, L. (2010) West Europe Volume, Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. Berg Fashion Library Ltd, Berg Publishers/Oxford International Publishers Ltd, Oxford

Thomsen, L. (2009) Internal business organization in Vietnam‘s private garment industry: the role of ethnicity, origin and location”. Competition & Change Vol. 13, No. 1, March 2009, 29-50

Thomsen, L. (2008) Shifting financial flows to low-income countries: from official aid to private finance? DIIS Working Paper 2008:22. Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen.

Thomsen, L. (2007) Accessing global value chains? The role of business–state relations in the private clothing industry in Vietnam. Journal of Economic Geography, Vol. 7, No. 6, November 2007, 753-776.

Thomsen, L (2006)  Supplier Entry Barriers to global value chains for Clothing: The roles of business-state relations in Vietnam and of Lead Firm Strategies in Europe. PhD Thesis, DIIS, Copenhagen. 

Palpacuer, F., Gibbon, P. and L. Thomsen (2005) New Challenges for Developing Country Suppliers in Global Clothing Value Chains: A Comparative European Perspective. World Development Vol. 33 (3), pages 409-430, March 2005.