Doctoral research

If you're interested in joining a dynamic community of talented researchers from around the world to explore research questions that matter, we would like to hear from you.

Our research topics

Within the Economics group we are especially keen to receive PhD research proposals in the following areas:

  • macroeconomics: monetary policy, economic development
  • financial economics and financial technology
  • microeconomics: industrial economics, productivity analysis, energy and environmental, behavioural economics
  • international economics: international money and finance, exchange rates, international trade, foreign direct investment, globalisation.

In addition to this however, group members are willing to consider PhD research proposals in the areas listed below.

Please use the list below to identify a potential supervisor(s), develop your research proposal, share this with the identified supervisor(s) and confirm they are willing to be named in support of your application. You are encouraged to ask for feedback from them to develop your research proposal. Then you should be ready to formally apply.

  • Morakinyo Adetutu: environmental and energy policy, pollution risk, climate finance
  • Anna Bennato: industrial economics, behavioural economics
  • Vitor Castro: economic growth and business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy, political economy, health economics, applied econometrics
  • Simeon Coleman: development economics, macroeconomic dynamics, international economics
  • Alessandra Ferrari: applied econometrics, performance measurement, banking, efficiency, regulation and competition
  • Ben Ferrett: tax competition for FDI, international trade, applied game theory, history of economic thought
  • Bo Gao: international trade, firm heterogeneity, trade policy, gains from trade
  • Eric Pentecost: international monetary economics, especially capital flows, currency substitution and exchange rates
  • Christopher Spencer: household portfolio allocation; the history of the US Federal Reserve System; monetary policy making, especially the interest rate setting behaviour of monetary policy committees and central bank communication
  • Dawid Trzeciakiewicz: fiscal policy, interactions between fiscal and monetary policy, DSGE modelling
  • Vanessa Valero: experimental economics, behavioural economics, public economics
  • Christopher Wilson: industrial economics, behavioural economics, applied microeconomic theory
  • Justine Wood: central bank transparency, monetary policy, financial economics, economics of education, history of economic thought

Proposed PhD projects

Project reference

LB24-ARB (please quote this in your application).

Proposers

Project description

Embark on a ground-breaking research journey with our PhD scholarship opportunity focused on understanding and addressing the complexities of medication non-adherence. This research aims to unravel the behavioural drivers influencing patient adherence to prescribed medications, with a special emphasis on populations in developed economies. In a world grappling with the far-reaching consequences of non-adherence, this scholarship offers a unique chance to contribute to transformative change in healthcare practices.

Engage in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, leveraging insights from economics, psychology and technology to craft innovative strategies that go beyond conventional approaches. By unravelling the intricacies of medication non-adherence, you will play a pivotal role in proposing impactful policy interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes. Seize this opportunity to make a lasting impact on global health, as you work alongside esteemed researchers and mentors dedicated to advancing knowledge and shaping the future of healthcare. Join us on this intellectual adventure that not only defines your academic journey but also shapes the landscape of healthcare for generations to come.

The ideal candidate for this PhD research project will have received rigorous training in microeconomics and industrial organisation. Experience in the statistical and econometric analysis of economic time series, cross section or panel data is also a requirement for the successful.

Project reference

LB24-EG (please quote this in your application).

Proposers

Project description

SMEs are increasingly pushed towards complex growth paths to keep up with evolving technological developments and bolster their competitiveness as suppliers in global value chains. Therefore, traditional SME internationalisation models imbued with a limited geographical span and characterised by lower levels of digital advancement and sustainability awareness, are no longer viable. Western domestic markets’ recession provides impetus to SMEs to grow internationally, while fuelling governmental initiatives to re-conceptualise their export strategy to support their SMEs in becoming export-ready and competitive in their internationalisation endeavours.

With the UK facing increased barriers since Brexit and demonstrating a disappointing performance of exports to other parts of the world, the question that is raised is whether the support which has been provided in recent years to UK exporters or prospective exporters is currently well geared to cover the changing needs for UK SMEs to develop new exporting ties in new, less familiar geopolitical spaces. The evolving nature of the UK regulatory, geopolitical and economic landscapes necessitates a dynamic approach to supporting SMEs especially in the areas of technology. Therefore, focusing on the optimal framework for the UK Government to ensure SME competitiveness of the technology sector while preserving the know-how and intellectual capital/property of these companies becomes a priority.

Project reference

LB24-TT (please quote this in your application).

Proposers

Project description

How do cultural and regulatory changes affect economic inequality through household decisions about how to allocate time between wage work and household production? These changes are unlikely to impact households uniformly across the wealth distribution. In particular, cultural and statutory changes that increase the desirability of wage work relative to household production also increase income inequality in the population. This research builds a theoretical model of household utility maximization and then uses aggregate country-level data to show that proxies for cultural shifts, like the length of the average workweek or the relative price of domestic appliances, are associated with inequality.

Project reference

LB24-MY (please quote this in your application).

Proposers

Project description

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to focus on the integration of Fintech adoption and financial literacy in rural communities across South Asian countries. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, this research offers a chance to delve into the complexities of financial inclusion barriers, explore the feasibility of cutting-edge Fintech solutions and evaluate their impact on sustainability performance. This is an unparalleled chance to engage in interdisciplinary research, collaborating with industry experts, local businesses and international institutions. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to make pioneering contributions to academia and drive real-world impact.

If you are passionate about leveraging technology for positive societal change, please apply now and be part of a research journey that shapes vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities.

PhD/MPhil

Conduct your own research to solve issues affecting society and the planet, and help shape a different way of doing business.