Professor Bruce Preston

Welcome

I am a Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales and a Fellow of both the Econometric Society and the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. I currently serve as a Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Monetary Policy Board.

My research focuses on macroeconomic theory and policy, particularly the design and evaluation of monetary and fiscal frameworks under uncertainty.

I’ve published in journals such as the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, and the Journal of Monetary Economics, and I aim to bridge rigorous academic analysis with practical policy relevance.

This site brings together my scholarly work, public writing, and other professional activity — please feel free to explore or get in touch.

About

Before joining UNSW, I held academic positions at the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Columbia University in New York. I received my MA and PhD in Economics from Princeton University.

I have previously worked as a Senior Economic Research Advisor at the Reserve Bank of Australia and consulted for the Australian Treasury. I continue to serve on advisory committees for government and research institutions, and regularly speak at academic conferences and policy forums.

Beyond research, I am committed to economic education and public engagement. I have delivered short courses and lectures for central banks and government agencies, including the European Area Business Cycle Network, the Bank of Japan, the Commonwealth Treasury, and the University of Virginia.

My current work explores how expectations, learning, and institutional design shape the effectiveness of macroeconomic policy in complex, real-world settings.