Brief CV

Degrees Visiting Chairs Other Visiting Posts Invited Papers Research Interests Journal of Economic Surveys Postgraduate Teaching and Examining Undergraduate Teaching University Administration Other Information

Degrees

B.Sc. Mathematics, University of Sussex; B.Phil. Economics, University of Oxford

 

Visiting Chairs

University of Waikato, New Zealand (Visiting Professor of Economics, 1998), University of Canterbury, New Zealand (Visiting Professor of Economics, 2001, 2005 and 2008).

 

Other Visiting Posts

Copenhagen School of Economics (Visiting Research Fellow, 1979/80), University of Pennsylvania (Visiting Research Fellow, 1980), Arbetslivscentrum, Stockholm (Visiting Research Fellow, 1981), Uppsala University, Sweden (Visiting Research Fellow, 1981 and 1982), European University Institute, Italy (Visiting Associate Professor of Economics, 1985 and Jean Monnet Fellow, 1986/87), Queen’s University, Canada (Visiting Associate Professor of Economics, 1991/92)

 

Invited Papers

I have accepted invitations to present papers at a wide range of institutions, including: Copenhagen School of Economics, Uppsala University, Arbetslivscentrum (Stockholm), European University Institute (Florence), Queen's University (Canada), Hamilton College/Colgate University joint seminar (USA), University of Melbourne, University of Waikato (New Zealand), University of Canterbury (New Zealand), Cornell University (USA), University of Trento (Italy), London School of Economics, Stirling University, St. Andrews University, the University of East London, Kingston University, Staffordshire University, Queen's University (Belfast) and University of Hertfordshire.

 

Research Interests

(a) Structure of Dynamic Models.

This is a long-standing research interest, going back to my work on catastrophe models. It includes some joint work (with L.T. Oxley) on macrodynamics. This work emphasises the importance of non-linear dynamics, stressing the need for global (as opposed to local) analysis, and develops the important concept of robustness. The wide range of dynamics which can emerge from non-linear models is now recognised as being of importance in economics. For example, models involving chaotic dynamics are proving particularly fruitful. Joint work (with Oxley, Harrison, Yu and Lu) involves the detection of chaos in financial markets. Recent work has focussed on the use of generalised lag structures in growth models.

(b) Comparative Economic Organisation.

This is another area in which I have a long-standing interest. It includes topics such as workers' cooperatives, codetermination, profit-sharing and wage-earners' investment funds. Some of my research in this area is reported in my book Economic Democracy: The Political Economy of Self-Management and Participation. An argument developed in the book is that self-managed firms under capitalism should be partially financed by a new type of financial asset (performance bonds) which could be held by wage-earners' investment funds. My work in this field is both empirical and theoretical and crosses the boundaries of labour economics, industrial economics, theory of the firm and comparative economic systems. I am also interested in relevant sociological and industrial relations research in this area.

(c) Economics of Product Reliability.

This research area is concerned with the determination of product reliability and the related issue of warranties. Topics covered include the effects of (i) different forms of competition (ii) regulation (iii) various forms of technical progress and (iv) demand shifts, on reliability and warranties. Markets to which this analysis applies include consumer durables, some intermediate goods such as silicon chips, some services such as rail transport and some utilities such as gas and electricity.

 

Journal of Economic Surveys

Together with three colleagues, I founded the Journal in 1987, and I continue to serve as joint Editor.

 

Postgraduate Teaching and Examining

Mathematical Modelling (University of Edinburgh), Methodology (University of Edinburgh), Economic Principles for the MBA (University of Stirling)

I have supervised several Ph.D and M.Phil students at Edinburgh, served as internal examiner for the Ph.D and M.Phil degrees at Edinburgh, and served as external Ph.D examiner at the University of Northumbria and the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

 

Undergraduate Teaching

I have thirty-two years experience teaching a variety of subjects including:

At the University of Oxford
Microeconomics and quantitative economics (tutorials). (2nd and 3rd year)

At the University of Edinburgh
General microeconomics and macroeconomics. (1st and 2nd year)
International Economics. (4th. year)
Marxian Economics. (4th. year)
Economic Growth Theory (3rd and 4th year)
Comparative Economic Systems (3rd and 4th year)

Economics of Transition (3rd and 4th year)
Quantitative Economics (3rd year)
Economics of Self-Management (3rd and 4th year)
Microeconomic Theory (3rd and 4th. year)
Mathematical Techniques for Economics (1st. year)

Trade, Globalisation and Transition (1st. year)

Globalisation (3rd year)

At the Open University
Mathematical Modelling (2nd level course)

At Queen's University (Canada)
Economic principles (1st year)
Microeconomic Theory (intermediate)
Comparative Economic Systems (intermediate)

 

University Administration

I am the International Director of the School of Economics, Recruitment and Admissions Liaison Officer of the School of Economics and a Director of Studies.

I served on the Senate of the University of Edinburgh from 2002 to 2005. I have been a member of the University Northern Scholars Committee, organiser of the Economics Research Group Seminar, a member of the George Watson's and Daniel Stewart's (Political Economy) Chair Committee, a member of the Economics Chair committee, Convenor of the Board of Studies in Economics, Economics Department Social Convenor, Economics Department Examinations Officer, a member of the Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching (Board of Studies) Committee, organiser of the Economics Department Postgraduate programme, a member of the Faculty of Social Sciences Postgraduate Studies Committee, Unit of Assessment Coordinator (Economics) for the Research Assessment Exercise, the Social Sciences representative on the University Enterprise Committee, a member of the University’s Teaching Programme Review Panel, a member of the Management School & Economics Teachability Working Party and member of the Open Days planning group.

Other Information

I have been an academic referee for the Economic and Social Research Council.  I have been an academic referee for the following journals: Economic Journal, Oxford Economic Papers, European Economic Review, Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Economics of Planning, Economics of Transition, Review of Political Economy, Journal of Economics and Business, Journal of Economic Studies, Bulletin of Economic Research, IMA Journal of Mathematics Applied in Business and Industry, Review of Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, Environmental Modelling and Software, Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM). I have been a book referee for John Wiley, Unwin Hyman and Basil Blackwell.

 

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