In this latest in our series of articles meeting new School of Economics academics, we find out about the former University of Cambridge PhD student’s research interests, and his thoughts on his new position at Bristol. We also learn about where his love of economics started, and which aspect of his career he’s most proud of… 

 

How did you first become interested in economics?  

My first proper contact with economics was reading Partha Dasgupta's Economics: A Very Short Introduction. From there, I read a range of books on different parts of the subject – some aimed at economists, some aimed at the general public. 

I loved the way these books could help explain some of the underlying drivers of behaviour we see in the world, and point to tools that can help us understand what will happen next.  

Economics' particular focus on lessons for policy was a key motivation for me. At its best, the subject aspires to help governments and societies make better decisions. 

 

Can you tell us about your areas of research expertise?  

I do economic theory. This means I build models and study their behaviour. I use them to think carefully about the incentives people face and how this can feed through into economic behaviour in a range of settings.  

Each model aims to shed light on a single type of behaviour, but often could be applied to several different settings. 

The core of my research thinks about how social networks – complex patterns of interactions between people – shape behaviour.  

Within this, I focus on settings where people consider their friends, neighbours and co-workers when choosing how to behave. This can be applied to the consumption of status goods, the provision of public goods, and the following of social norms.  

Another part of my research is on political economy – I consider how governments extend property rights and interact with lobbyists. 

 

What has your career journey looked like? What are you most proud of?  

I did my undergraduate studies at Queens' College, Cambridge. I learned the basics of economic theory and had a first foray into network economics, which now makes up the bulk of my research. Before pursuing graduate studies – also at Cambridge – I had an interlude first as a regulator, and then as a professional economist. I joined Bristol straight from my PhD at Cambridge. 

I am most proud of my teaching – helping students understand how they can use the economist's toolkit to make sense of the world for themselves. While at Cambridge, my teaching was recognised by a Teaching Fellows Prize, and a Postgraduate Teaching Award. 

 

Do you have any key words of advice for your students? 

My top piece of advice for economics students is to never forget that economic models are tools to help us think carefully about the world. It is a very powerful toolkit that can be brought to bear on a vast range of topics. But the appropriate tool will always depend on the question at hand.  

Learning how to pick the right tool for the problem, and understanding the strengths and limitations of each tool, is one of the key skills an economist can develop. Ultimately, an important part of becoming an economist is discovering how to use the tools for yourself. 

 

What are your hopes for your future at Bristol? 

Bristol has a large group of talented economists who have a wide range of interests and expertise. This was a big attraction for joining.  

I'm excited to discuss ideas and collaborate with others at Bristol who will provide new ways of looking at some of the questions and topics I focus on.  

I also hope that my research will help improve our understanding of how social networks affect people's behaviour. In turn, this can help policymakers understand the possible unintended consequences of their actions, and be better able to see how actions targeted at one group can spill over onto others. This could help design more carefully targeted policies.