Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what brought you to UEA?
I came to UEA because of my excellent colleagues. Before that, I spent many years at University of Copenhagen and some time at Newcastle University.
What are you passionate about outside of Economics?
I enjoy to dance tango and fly-fish. I listen to huge amounts of music; indie, some electronic, a little classic and tango. I have tried to play guitar and trumpet, but I make them sound like experiments that have gone wrong. I like to read about different periods in history. In the last couple of years, I’ve focused on Mesopotamia.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Economics?
I am interested in social issues and math-making economics was a natural choice. Economic dynamics was the first topic that really caught my attention.
What excites you the most about Economics at the moment?
Globalization! It looks like a lot of the current economic and political turmoil comes from the effects of globalization and how it is implemented politically.
What modules do you teach on?
I teach economic theory modules, ECO-7019B and ECO-R005. Both are macroeconomic modules. As I have mentioned, economic dynamics was what really caught my attention in Economics. Modern macroeconomics is economic dynamics.
What are you researching at the moment?
Recently, I have been working on optimal fiscal policy, allocation of costs in networks and Cournot competition. First, for optimal fiscal policy, the issue is about the best way to finance government spending. Taxes can be spread over time by use of debt. From a society point of view, how should they be spread? Second, cost allocation in networks is about the tension between interests in the form of networks. It could be trade or communication networks, and costs of building these networks. Agents obviously want to to have their most preferred network and pay as little as possible for these networks, but somebody has to pay! Third, Cournot competition is about shareholders and stakeholders in firms and their interests. Usually in economics, firms are simply assumed to maximize their profits. However, shareholders are interested in maximizing the returns on their portfolios instead of the returns on their shares in individual firms. The question is whether taking the interests of shareholders and stakeholders into account leads to more or less competition. All my work is in economic theory.
What advice would you give for students pursuing a career in academia?
My suggestion is to try to get a good and broad background in Economics. Develop the technical skills needed and then focus a little bit more on the topics that interest you.
What do you enjoy most about the School of Economics at UEA?
It is a very friendly environment. Academics in the School are dedicated to the learning outcomes and well-being of the students. At the same time, we are provided with generous support in the pursuit of our own career objectives.
What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished “Our Dead World” by Liliana Colanzi and, before that, “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh. Next will be “Myth of the Archaic State” by Norman Yoffee.
What is your favourite place in Norwich?
I like the area around the Cathedral and that part of the river. For coffee, Marmalade is my favourite.