Applied microeconomics | University of Strathclyde

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, and labour.

Example publications

Dickson, A., Gehrsitz, M., & Kemp, J. (2023). “Does a Spoonful of sugar levy help the calories go down? an analysis of the UK soft drinks industry levy.” The Review of Economics and Statistics

Pathak, P., Schündeln, M. (2022). "Social Hierarchies and the Allocation of Development Aid: Evidence from the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal." Journal of Public Economics.

Scarfe, R., Singleton, C., & Telemo, P. (2021). “Extreme wages, performance and superstars in a market for footballers”. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

Kiessling, L. & Norris, J. (2022). “The Long-Run Effects of Peers on Mental Health”. Economic Journal.

Hampton, M., & Lenhart, O. (2022), “Access to Health Care and Mental Health – Evidence from the ACA Preexisting Conditions Provision”, Health Economics.

Dickson, A., MacKenzie, I. & Sekeris, P. (2021). “The role of markets on resource conflicts”, Scandinavian Journal of Economics.

Gehrsitz, M., Saffer, H., & Grossman, M. (2021). “The Effect of Changes in Alcohol Tax Differentials on Alcohol Consumption”, Journal of Public Economics.

Battisti, M., Peri, G. & Romiti, A. (2021) “The Dynamic Effects of Co-ethnic Networks on Immigrants’ Economic Success”, Economic Journal.

Hampton, M., & Lenhart, O. (2021). “The Effect of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Marriage”, Economic Inquiry.

Hull, M., & Norris, J. (2020). “The Skill Development of the Children of Immigrants”. Economics of Education Review

Funding

Johnstone, S., Briken, K., Cunningham, I., Hadjisolomou, T., McCarthy, T., McIntyre, S. Scholarios, D. & Taylor, P. “Amplifying Employee Voice and Hearing the Unheard: A Multidisciplinary Study of Contemporary Working Lives in Deindustrialised Communities”, ESRC 2022 – 2025; £553,075.

Lenhart, O., & Morton, A. (2020) “Impact of Pandemic Response Upon Public Mental Health and Disparities”. The Mental Health Foundation. Funded by Chief Scientist Office, Covid-19 Research Funding; £65,000.

Dickson, A. (PI), Roy, G., McIntyre, S., & Mitchell, M (2020). “Evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme in Scotland”. Funded by the Scottish Government, Local Government and Communities Directorate; £80,624.

Gehrsitz, M. (PI), McIntyre, S. & Roy, G. (2021). “Class Size and Human Capital Accumulation - Nuffield Foundation”; £130,284.

Knowledge exchange projects

Borbely, D., Lenhart, O., Norris, J., & Romiti, A. (2023). VoxEU, Centre for Economic Policy Research. “Marijuana legalisation and mental health: Some benefit, others are hurt”.

Dickson, A., Gehrsitz, M., & Kemp, J. (2021). LSEBlog.“How the UK Soft Drinks Levy reduced the population’s calorie intake”

Dickson, A., Gehrsitz, M., & Kemp, J. (2021). IZA Newsroom. “UK sugar levy effectively reduced calorie intake from soft drinks”.

Amuedo-Dorantes, C. & Romiti, A. (2021). VoxEU, Centre for Economic Policy Research. “Brexit deterred international students from applying to UK universities”.