Jon joined the University of Bristol in 2001, appointed directly to a personal chair. Becoming a Professor before the age of 30 speaks volumes about his academic achievements, but those who met Jon know that what made him stand out, was his intelligence, wit and sense of fun, combined with his remarkable kindness.
As an undergraduate Jon read Economics at the University of Cambridge, followed by the MPhil. in Economic Theory and Econometrics. He excelled on both courses, while at the same time devoting much effort to volunteering with Student Community Action. In 1994 he moved to Nuffield College at the University of Oxford to study for a DPhil. In only his first term Jon decided to write a survey on economic growth. His paper on “The new growth evidence”, was later published in the Journal of Economic Literature in 1999. This began what was to become a career-long research agenda on economic growth, the area for which Jon was best known within the profession. During this time, he also contributed to the classic book on Endogenous Growth Theory by future Nobel Prize winners Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt.
Jon brought with him to Nuffield computer science skills that he had developed since programming games as teenager, and in 1995 he founded the website Economic Growth Resources, which he later transferred to the University of Bristol. This was the place to go to find out about the latest literature and data at a time when a quick internet search was not possible, as well as way to help connect researchers.
Jon went on to hold a Junior Research Fellowship at Hertford College and a position at the Institute of Economics and Statistics at Oxford. He published his 1998 paper with Paul A. Johnson on “Social capability and economic growth” in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, which established Jon’s reputation as an internationally leading researcher on the economics of growth.
Jon moved to the University of Bristol in 2001, where he continued his research with many co-authors on economic growth, on economic development and foreign aid, and on macroeconomics. Jon’s research career has been described as “stellar”, but alongside his intellectual insights, the way Jon approached research coupled with his diligence meant that those that he worked with really enjoyed co-authoring with him.
At Bristol, Jon selflessly took on many roles for the then Department of Economics within the School of Economics, Finance and Management. These included Research Director, PGR Director, REF UoA Co-ordinator, sitting on Faculty Promotions Committee, seminars organiser and of course, given his skills, website editor. Many colleagues recall the diligence, sharp insights and attention to detail that Jon brought to these roles as well as his good humour, making him, above all, a pleasure to work with.
Jon was dedicated to his PhD students. He guided and mentored them with enthusiasm and generosity. A common theme of the many touching tributes from former students is just how far out of his way Jon would go to be helpful. He kept in touch and continued to work with many students long after they had left Bristol. Jon’s ongoing advice was invaluable to many as they developed their own careers. He always showed exceptional commitment to doing whatever he could to help his colleagues in their work, and this help would always be delivered in the most self-effacing way possible.
Throughout his career, Jon contributed significantly to the Economics discipline, serving as a RES Council member from 2006-2011, RES Conference Programme Chair in 2008, Editor of the Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics and Associate Editor of The Economic Journal, the Journal of Economic Growth and the Journal of Development Economics. He was a CEPR Research Fellow and a recipient of the Philip Leverhulme Prize.
Jon was incredibly well-read and himself a gifted writer. As a journal editor his support for authors and care and speed of response went well beyond the norm. His love of books also led him to join the first editorial board of Bristol University Press, and he brought with him a genuine enthusiasm for book publishing which is rare among economists. As always Jon was fully committed to the task, and many BUP authors benefited from his insights and generous suggestions.
Jon left the University of Bristol in 2019 to write, pursue editorial roles and continue his research, including with the IMF; as well as, from 2022 enjoying Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League.
As the many tributes to Jon have shown, his loss will be felt greatly, not only as an academic and a colleague, but in particular as a friend and as a mentor. Above all, it is the conversations and everyday interactions he had with those who knew him that will be so very much missed.