Biography

I have been at UWA since 1981 as a Professor of Economics (1981-2018), BHP Research Fellow (2008-2017) and Emeritus Professor and Senior Honorary Research Fellow (2019-). I have expertise in international finance, monetary economics and applied microeconomics. My research has been supported by a series of grants from BHP, the ARC and other sources. I have published research in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, European Economic Review, International Economic Review, Journal of Business, Journal of International Economics, etc. Cambridge University Press has published two of my books, Economics and Marijuana (with X. Zhao, 2009) and Currencies, Commodities and Consumption (2013).

In 2024 I was named Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Society (Award). I am a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (since 1998); received the Austin Holmes Award; and received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

Bob Gregory from ANU and I initiated the PhD Conference in Economics and Business that is now a joint venture between the ANU, the University of Queensland, Monash, Melbourne, UNSW and UWA. Over the last 30+ years, the conferences have provided the opportunity to gain exposure for, and feedback on, their work to about 1,000 PhD students from many universities in Australia and elsewhere. The conferences serve as an informal job market and major employers often attend. A number of outside bodies provide sponsorship.I and Bob Gregory are centrally involved in the conferences. 

Education

PhD (in Economics), The University of Chicago, 1977

Master of Economics, Monash University, 1974

Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours), Monash University, 1973

Research Grants

Multiple grants from the Australian Research Council. 

Current projects

“Notes for PhDs in Economics and Finance on Getting a Job.” December 20024.

Short-Cut Demand Elasticities and other Convenient Approaches to Consumer Demand (with H. Liu, M. J. Mariano, E. A. Selvanathan, S. Selvanathan and G. Verikios).

“Global Inflation, Growth and Exchange Rates: A Divisia Index-Number Approach” (with M. Farhad).

“Food, Affluence and the Consumption Basket” (with H. L. Vo).

Main Teaching

Economic Management and Strategy ECON5503, 2014-2015.

International Finance and Markets ECON4415 and ECON5502, c1990-2018.

Monetary Economics ECON2210, 1985-2013.

Research

International economics, monetary economics and applied microeconomics