The Department of Economics is an ambitious, research-driven department with an outstanding tradition of research in applied economics, particularly in the areas of labour economics and energy economics. There are also research interests in macroeconomics, the economics of health and wellbeing, globalisation and labour markets, environmental and experimental economics.
The department has a very successful record in PhD supervision. Postgraduate students are provided with office space and access to a desktop and they are fully integrated into all Economics department activities.
There is an annual one-day Economics PhD conference for students to showcase their work to all members of the department and externals attendees. There is also an active seminar series in economics for external speakers, together with a more informal lunchtime workshop series for work in progress.
In February 2014, the Department established the EPAKE, the Economics Policy and Knowledge Exchange Steering Committee. The aim of this committee is to facilitate inter- and multi- disciplinary research collaborations with other parts of the university, increase impact and generate grant projects. Its primary function is as a point of contact for other parts of the university when they seek economics input, and to build research capacity. The committee at present comprises:
Professor Keith Bender - health economics
Professor Alexandros Zangelidis - Head of Department
Professor Catia Montagna - international trade and globalisation
Professor Euan Phimister - energy and environmental economics
Professor Ioannis Theodossiou - labour economics
The Department's Research Convenor is Professor Catia Montagna.
Research
The Economics Department has an established tradition of research in applied economics, particularly in the areas of labour economics, the economics of health and wellbeing, experimental economics and energy economics. There is also important research activity in macroeconomics, microeconomics, economics of finance, agricultural economics, international economics, urban/ regional economics and environmental economics.
The Department of Economics is the home to Scotland's first experimental economics laboratory, The Scottish Experimental Economics Laboratory (SEEL). This state-of-the-art experimental lab has been the focus of academic excellence and has been used to enhance our understanding of how markets work and how individuals make decisions. A dedicated state-of-the-art purpose-built computer laboratory with 28 terminals used by experimental economists as well as by researchers in other disciplines wishing to use experimental methods for their own work.
Scottish Experimental Economics Library
The Centre for European Labour Market Research (CELMR) (established in 2000) is active in the area of labour economics, wellbeing and health. It is supported by research staff and technicians. It has a strong research ethos and is composed of active researchers with international scope. It has an established international reputation in labour economics and has also actively participated in EU scientific exchange programmes and projects. Researchers within the group have wide experience and publications related to labour market topics and explore broad interactions between labour markets, health, globalisation and welfare state and industrial policies. Over the last 10 years the CELMR has led European research on issues of quality of work, and inequalities in health. It has also actively participated in EU scientific exchange programmes and research. The School and the CELMR have excellent links with many other universities and institutions throughout the UK and Europe and has especially good working links with the Scottish government economic service.
Centre for European Labour Market Research
The Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance (ACREEF) is active in research on the economics of Energy and Natural Resources research. The research is focused on the economics of North Sea petroleum operations and the international fiscal problems raised by such exploration. Current investigations include petroleum tax systems and exploration risk, option values and petroleum investment in the North Sea, the economics of exploration and development west of Shetland, future taxable capacity in the UK Continental Shelf, the effects of onshore and offshore transportation tariffs on gas developments. Some of these investigations include colleagues elsewhere in the University while others involve international collaboration.
Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance
The Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) at the University of Aberdeen is one of the leading units in health economics with excellent links to the Department of Economics. It has been at the cutting edge of economic research into health for almost forty years. Research expertise includes economics of health behaviours, economics of the health workforce, and non-market valuation. More information about HERU’s areas of research can be found on HERU's website.
Health Economics Research Unit