Our research involves the development and use of a range of statistical methods to explore both microeconomic and macroeconomic problems. This include the development of new measures of the modern economy, development of econometric techniques (with a particular specialism in Bayesian econometrics), and work to develop approaches to producing more timely indicators of the macroeconomy through ‘nowcasting’.

Our research examines how the economy performs and evolves at a national level, with a particular focus on applications to real-world challenges facing policymakers and business.

Areas of research include macro-modelling of the UK and Scottish economies, policy evaluation, fiscal analysis, and labour markets.

Research in applied macroeconomics has been a key activity of the Department of Economics for almost four decades. Our aim is to develop evidence-based theoretical models and to provide theory-informed and policy-relevant research, which is associated with high-level, high impact knowledge exchange.

Our research examines both theoretical and empirical questions in applied microeconomics, the papers resulting from which are published in leading international journals.

A core aim of our theoretical research is to better understand the interaction between firms, consumers and governments in different strategic environments and, consequently, to understand the implications for economic policy. Our investigations mainly focus on the areas of international trade, public economics and industrial organisation.

Our empirical microeconomics research uses modern econometric techniques to investigate important questions of policy relevance in the fields of health, education, crime, migration, development and labour.

The department has a particular expertise in economic policy. All the work of our other research clusters is informed by policy-relevant academic research. In tandem, we also have a particular focus in its own right - reflecting over 40 years’ of experience from the Fraser of Allander Institute – in commenting upon, advising and researching economic policy. Much of this work is highly applied with direct engagement with policymakers and industry being a hallmark of our approach.

At the same time, academics from across the department can be regularly seen in the media and taking on key roles on government advisory boards and parliamentary committees. We passionately believe that our research must have a purpose beyond academia and be used to help inform better policymaking and businesses to grow.

Members of the department also contribute to a research team from across disciplines to address the many energy challenges of the 21st Century, including reducing the environmental impact of energy use, improving energy efficiency and assessing the links between energy use and the economy.

The team forms part of one of the largest energy research clusters in Europe, from across engineering, science, policy and the business school.