Our research in econometrics has helped to advance the study of panel data models, non-parametric methods, and estimation of treatment effects. Policy evaluations go beyond quantifying a single effect to learn about the mechanisms and pathways underlying observed outcomes. Applied researchers draw on rich datasets and large-scale field experiments in health, education, employment and welfare policies, and use the latest methods to uncover spatial dimensions of economic processes. Structural models of labour markets, household choices and consumer search are used to generate deeper insights into behaviour and to make policy predictions. Theoretical research focuses on the optimal design of markets, public services, and political institutions. Research in macroeconomics, broadly defined, encompasses the study of unemployment, household decisions, economic growth, and the effects of foreign aid.

Interdisciplinary

Our research also goes beyond economics. By drawing on connections with biology, geography, mathematics and statistics, medical sciences, and psychology, we seek to deepen our understanding of phenomena that cannot be explained solely in terms of economics, and to study effects of economic events on other outcomes, and vice versa.

Academic excellence and esteem

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) evaluation of Economics Departments at UK universities, our department was ranked sixth for the overall quality of its research activity. Since then, department members have continued to publish in leading general and field journals.

Current department members hold a number of journal editorships and associate editorships. They also hold positions as Fellows of the Econometric Society, elected members of the Council of the Royal Economic Society, and the Council of the European Economic Association. They belong to international research networks (CEPR, CESifo and IZA) and serve on research funding panels.

Impact and collaboration

The department has an excellent track record in research that has an impact on the real world. In REF 2014, the department was rated first in the UK for the impact of its research, as witnessed by case studies drawn from healthcare, education and energy regulation. Since then, we have continued to disseminate research to a wide audience. Recent examples include our research on fracking, education policies, and disaster appeals. Policy and practice have demonstrably been influenced by work in areas such as pensions, education, welfare-to-work, health and charitable giving.

Many research projects are carried out in collaboration with non-academic partners, providing access to rich administrative datasets. Major policy experiments and randomized controlled trials have been implemented in the field to learn more about which approaches work and which do not, and to generate new insights into underlying economic behaviour. Throughout our research activity, we seek to advance our understanding using rigorous methods, relevant models, and careful analyses of the data.