Professor of Economics
Department of Economics, University of Sussex
and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics
Knight of the Order of the Academic Oak — conferred by the President of Albania, April 2026
Research
Working papers
“Losing Their Religion”
[CEP Discussion Paper No. 2226, September 2026]
(with Richard Murphy, UT Austin).
“School Management Takeover, Leadership Change, and Personnel Policy” (with Emma Duchini, Victor Lavy and Steve Machin).
Revision requested by American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. NBER working paper
Revision requested by American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. NBER working paper
“Leadership wages and performance in schools” (with Tim Besley and Steve Machin).
Revision requested by Journal of Political Economy: Micro.
Revision requested by Journal of Political Economy: Micro.
“The Public Sector and the Misallocation of Labor: Evidence from a Policy Experiment in India” (with A.V. Chari et al.).
CEP Discussion Paper 1596
CEP Discussion Paper 1596
Refereed articles
“The impact of subjective school ratings on principal compensation and turnover,” Journal of Public Economics, Volume 253, 105524, 2026 (with Iftikhar Hussain and Vincenzo Scrutinio). DOI
“Teacher turnover: Effects, mechanisms and organisational responses,” Labour Economics, 73, 2021 (with S. Gibbons and V. Scrutinio). DOI
“Do Social Interactions in the Classroom Improve Academic Attainment?” IZA World of Labor, 440, 2018.
“Peer Effects and Pupil Attainment: Evidence from Secondary School Transition,” Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 78(4): 548–575, 2016 (with Steve Gibbons).
- Discussed in the Commons’ Select Committee on School Diversity
- Featured on BBC News, The Guardian, The Times, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, etc.
“Does degree class matter? Graduate earnings and student achievement in UK universities,” Oxford Economic Papers, 68(2): 525–545, 2015 (with Robin Naylor and Jeremy Smith).
- Featured in the Observer, BBC News, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, etc.
“Non-Native Speakers of English In The Classroom: What Are The Effects On Pupil Performance?” The Economic Journal, 123(570): 281–307, 2013 (with Sandra McNally and Charlotte Geay).
- LSE CentrePiece version downloaded ~40,000 times; VoxEU version read 40,000+ times
- Cited in the OECD's International Migration Outlook and Handbook of the Economics of International Migration
- Featured in the Financial Times, The Guardian, BBC News, Daily Telegraph, Huffington Post, etc.
“Innovation Activities and Competitiveness: Empirical Evidence on the Behaviour of Firms in the New EU Member States and Candidate Countries,” Eastern European Economics, 51(4): 84–107, 2013 (with Iraj Hashi and Nebojsa Stojcic).
“Pupil mobility and school disruption,” Journal of Public Economics, 95(9–10): 1156–1167, 2011 (with Steve Gibbons).
“Competition, Cream-skimming and Departmental Performance within Secondary Schools,” British Educational Research Journal, 35(1): 65–81, 2009 (with P. Davies, N. Adnett, R. Coe and D. Hutton).
“Increasing Within-School Competition: A Case for Department Level Performance Indicators?” Research Papers in Education, 24(1): 45–55, 2009 (with N. Adnett, P. Davies, R. Coe and D. Hutton).
“Faith schools, social capital and academic attainment: evidence from TIMSS-R mathematics scores in Flemish secondary schools,” British Educational Research Journal, 1–33 (with G. Pugh).
“Are Schools Drifting Apart? Intake Stratification in English Secondary Schools,” Urban Studies, 44(7) (with Steve Gibbons).
- Featured in the ESRC Annual Magazine (2008) and discussed in the Commons Select Committee on School Diversity
“The Mobility of English School Children,” Fiscal Studies, 27(3): 253–280, lead article (with Steve Machin and Joan Wilson).
“Bold, Reckless and Adaptable? Gender differences in economic thinking and attitudes,” British Educational Research Journal, 31(1): 29–48 (with P. Davies and J. Mangan).
“Economic aspects of citizenship education: an investigation of students’ understanding,” Curriculum Journal, 13(2): 227–249 (with P. Davies, H. Howie and J. Mangan).
“Legal, Fiscal and Environmental Barriers to the Entry of New Local Firms in Albania,” Economics and Transition, 4(26): 97–108 (in Albanian).
“Barriers to Entry and Their Impact on Local Firms’ Performance in Albania,” in Balcerowicz, E., Balcerowicz, L. and Hashi, I. (eds.), Barriers to Entry in Early Transition, NY: Kluwer Publishers (with Lindita Xhillari).
▸ Reports, discussion papers & other publications
“The Quality of Higher Education Institutions and Their Study Programmes in Albania: Trends Over Time,” Oct. 2024 (with Iraj Hashi et al.).
“The Rise of the ‘Super Head’ — Salary Differentials and Academy Schools,” 2021 (with Steve Machin and Andy Eyles).
“An independent evaluation of Uni Connect’s impact on intermediate outcomes for learners,” Report for the Office for Students, 2021.
“Teacher Turnover: Does it matter for student performance?” CEP Discussion Paper 1530, 2018 (with Steve Gibbons and Vincenzo Scrutinio).
“Does teacher turnover affect young people’s academic achievement?” CentrePiece, Spring 2017 (with Steve Gibbons and Vincenzo Scrutinio).
“The rewards for getting a good degree,” CentrePiece, Spring 2016 (with Robin Naylor and Jeremy Smith).
“Valuing the benefits of Student allocation funding,” Report to HEFCE, CfE, 2015 (with Steve McIntosh).
“University quality and graduate wages in the UK,” CEE/LSE Discussion Paper 99 and IZA Discussion Paper 4043, 2009 (with Sandra McNally and Ifty Hussain).
- Cited as evidence to the Education Committee and the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee; quoted in the Russell Group's submission to the Browne Review
“Educational Returns, Ability Composition, and cohort effects: theory and evidence for cohorts of early-career UK graduates,” Warwick Economics Research Paper 906 / CEP Discussion Paper 939, 2009 (with N.J. Ireland, R.A. Naylor and J.P. Smith).
“Language barriers? The impact of non-native English speakers in the classroom,” VoxEU, 2013 (with Sandra McNally and Charlotte Geay).
“Language barriers? The impact of non-native English speakers in the classroom,” CentrePiece, Spring 2012 (with Charlotte Geay and Sandra McNally).
- Over 50,000 downloads; featured in the Financial Times, BBC, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, etc.
“The Cost of Social Exclusion,” Report to The Prince’s Trust, Nov. 2010 (with Sandra McNally).
“Microeconometric Analysis of Household Awareness and Impact of Governance Reforms in Albania’s Education Sector,” Report to the World Bank, Dec. 2009.
“University Quality and Graduate Wages in the UK,” Report for TLRP, ESRC, 2008 (with Iftikhar Hussain and Sandra McNally).
“Are the Top Universities Worth Paying For?” CentrePiece, 2008 (with Iftikhar Hussain and Sandra McNally).
- Downloaded 20,000+ times; widely cited in the press and among policymakers
“School Segregation and its Consequences,” CentrePiece, Winter 2007/8 (with Steve Gibbons).
“Segregation at School,” ESRC Annual Magazine: Britain in 2008 (with Steve Gibbons).
“Value of Inclusion,” Report for The Prince’s Trust, July 2006 (with Sandra McNally).
- Cited in Parliament's Committee on Economic Affairs (Fifth Report, 2007) and the Commons debate at Westminster, 24 April 2007
“Within School Competition and Pupil Achievement,” Report to ESRC, Dec. 2004 (with Nick Adnett, Peter Davies and Robert Coe).
Work in progress
“Can providing information about the benefits and costs of Higher Education to English secondary school students increase their HE participation?” (mimeo)
“Autonomous schools and the teacher labour market,” Nuffield-funded (with Steve Machin, Victor Lavy and Emma Duchini)
“Does head-teacher training improve student performance? Evidence from an intervention in England” (with Vincenzo Scrutinio, mimeo)
“Compensating Differentials in education” (with Esteban Aucejo, Arizona State, and Vincenzo Scrutinio)
“Gender pay gap and child penalty in the education sector” (with Vincenzo Scrutinio)
Recent grants
- 2020–24“Autonomous schools and the teacher labour market: Evidence from academies,” Nuffield Foundation, £139,182 (with Victor Lavy, Emma Duchini and Stephen Machin)
- 2014–18ESRC grant for “Privatization and productivity growth,” £309,000 (with A.V. Chari et al.)
- 2016BMEc Research Development Fund, “Does Religion affect Economic Prosperity? Evidence from a Ban on Religious expression in Albania”
- 2011–12Nuffield Foundation, “Non-Native English Speakers in the Classroom,” £50,000 (with Sandra McNally)
- 2008ESRC, “Equality of Access to Higher Education Institutions and Labour Market Returns,” £318,733 (with Anna Vignoles, Sandra McNally and others)
Policy
Advisory and committee work connecting research with policy, alongside commentary on education and labour markets.
Policy advisory roles
2021–present
Chair, Higher Education Accreditation Board — Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Albania
2024
Written evidence cited in the House of Commons Education Committee report, “Teacher recruitment, training and retention,” Second Report of Session 2023–24. Read the report →
2023
Written evidence submitted to the UK Parliament: “Teacher Turnover: Effects, mechanisms and organisational responses.” Read the submission →
2017–18
Member, Technical Advisory Group, UK Department for Education — advice on teachers’ labour market policy
2017–21
Advisor, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) — evaluating the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP)
2018
Advisor, Ambition School Leadership Trust — impact of head-teacher training on student achievement in disadvantaged areas
2015
Advisor, HEFCE — “Valuing the benefits of university student allocation funding”
2010
Advisor, World Bank — “Impact of Governance Reforms in Albania’s Education Sector”
2006–10
Advisor, The Prince’s Trust — “The Cost of Social Exclusion” and “Value of Inclusion,” on youth unemployment, crime and education in the UK
Policy articles & commentary
Teacher & school labour markets
- “Does teacher turnover affect young people’s academic achievement?” CentrePiece, Spring 2017 (with Steve Gibbons and Vincenzo Scrutinio)
- “The rewards for getting a good degree,” CentrePiece, Spring 2016 (with Robin Naylor and Jeremy Smith)
- “Language barriers? The impact of non-native English speakers in the classroom,” VoxEU, 2013 (with Sandra McNally and Charlotte Geay)
- “Language barriers? The impact of non-native English speakers in the classroom,” CentrePiece, Spring 2012 (with Charlotte Geay and Sandra McNally)
- “Are the Top Universities Worth Paying For?” CentrePiece, 2008 (with Iftikhar Hussain and Sandra McNally)
- “School Segregation and its Consequences,” CentrePiece, Winter 2007/8 (with Steve Gibbons)
Also written for LSE Business Review, LSE British Politics and Policy, and other outlets.
Prizes, honours & service
APRIL 2026Knight of the Order of the Academic Oak, conferred by the President of Albania, for contributions to scientific research and to the design and advisory of public policy in Albania's education and economic sectors. Read the announcement →
Positions
- 2023–Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, University of Sussex
- 2008–Research Associate, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE
External appointments & service
2025Chair, HEI Quality Evaluation Team of Corvinus University, Budapest — invited by the Hungarian Higher Education Accreditation Board
OCT 2024 – MAR 2025Coordinator, Albanian Higher Education Strategy Document 2025 — appointed by the Minister of Education; strategy launched at a high-level event alongside the Albanian Prime Minister, February 2025
2021–presentInternational Selection Committee Member for Academic Hiring in Catalonia, Spain — Serra Húnter Programme
2016–presentEditorial Board Member, Ekonomski pregled — one of the oldest South-Eastern European social sciences journals
2015–presentMember, Economics of Higher Education Network
2014–presentEditorial Board Member, Economic Thought and Practice (Economics and Social Policy journal)
2017–18Member, Technical Advisory Group, UK Department for Education — advice on teachers’ labour market policy
2013–16Scientific Programme Committee Member, Royal Economic Society Annual Conference, UK
2016Programme Committee Member & Moderator, 1st International Conference on “Smart Ideas and a New Concept of Economic Regeneration in Europe,” Dubrovnik, Croatia
Academic & professional memberships
Albanian National Economic Council
Royal Economic Society
European Association of Labour Economists
European Economic Association
Centre for the Economics of Education, LSE
The Economics of Education and Education Policy in Europe Network
Department, university & sector service
- 2023–Member, Leadership Team, Department of Economics
- 2022–Director, Centre for the Study of Welfare and Inclusive Growth
- 2020–23Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Department of Economics
- 2013–15Organiser, weekly external Seminar Series, Department of Economics
- 2012–14Organiser, weekly internal Seminar Series, Department of Economics
Teaching & supervision
Teaching
- PhDAdvanced Research Methods
- MScHuman Resource Economics
- BScEconomics of Education
Supervision
I supervise PhD students in the Economics of Education and Labour Economics.
Keynotes & Talks
Keynotes and invited talks across Europe and North America.
Recent keynotes
- 2025Keynote panel speaker, High-Level Launch of Albania's Higher Education Strategy 2025 — alongside the Albanian Prime Minister and Minister of Education
- 2025Keynote panel speaker, Riinvest Research Institute 30th anniversary conference, “Activating the sources of economic growth”
- 2022Keynote speaker & panelist, European Commission workshop, “Gender Equality and Balance in Decision Making Bodies in Research Organisations”
- 2019Invited lecture, UK Department for Education, Learning and Development Event Series
- 2018Keynote speaker, Economics PhD Conference, Royal Holloway, University of London
- 2018Key panel member, Royal Economic Society public event, “What's the Point of University?”
- 2017Plenary chair/moderator on industrial policy, with ministers from Central and South-Eastern Europe — Dubrovnik conference
- 2016Keynote speaker & plenary panelist, Albanian Diaspora Conference, on the Albanian economy
Invited seminars & conferences (recent)
University of Prishtina, Department of Economics — forthcoming, October 2026
Helsinki Graduate School of Economics — forthcoming, November 2026
Oxford, Department of Economics — June 2025
Bristol, Department of Economics — October 2025
University College London, Faculty of Education and Society — March 2025
NTNU, Department of Economics, Norway — October 2024
Zurich, Department of Economics — December 2022
Bath, Department of Economics — October 2022
St Andrews, Department of Economics — 2020
London School of Economics, Centre for Economic Performance — 2019
University College London, Institute of Education — 2019
Padua, Department of Economics, Italy — 2019
Lausanne, Department of Economics, Switzerland — 2019
Luxembourg, Department of Economics — April 2019
Aberdeen, Department of Economics — November 2018
City University of New York, Graduate Center — October 2018
Birkbeck, Department of Economics, London — May 2018
European Commission, CRELL — 2018
IWAEE Annual Workshop, Catanzaro — 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
EALE Conference, Lyon — September 2018
European ASREC, Luxembourg — June 2018
International ASREC, Chapman University — March 2018
Milan, Workshop on Labour Economics — December 2017
London School of Economics, Employee & Stakeholder Influence on Boardroom Pay — February 2017
Zurich, Colloquium on Personnel Economics — February 2017
Split, Department of Economics, Croatia — June 2017
York, Workshop on Labour and Family Economics — September 2016
NTNU, Department of Economics, Trondheim — May 2016
London School of Economics, Centre for the Economics of Education — February 2016
Columbia, Teachers College — July 2015
Maastricht, Department of Economics — 2015
Bristol, CMPO — 2015
Padua, Department of Economics — 2015
NIESR, London — 2015
University College London, Institute of Education — 2015
Media
Research covered widely in national and international press.
Research cited in the following media
Financial Times
BBC News
BBC Radio 4 Today
BBC World Service
The Guardian
The Observer
Huffington Post
Times Education Supplement
The Independent
The Times
Daily Telegraph
Sunday Telegraph
Daily Mail
Evening Chronicle
The Sun
Student Times
Western Morning News
Daily Record
Herald
Focus
Evening Standard
Belfast Telegraph
Aberdeen Press and Journal
Glasgow Evening Times
Unison
This is Money
Scotland Courier
Further Education News
Express and Echo
Career Engineer
Women in Technology
London Digest
Also featured in the Polish, Albanian and other international press.
Radio & television interviews
- 2023Sky News, UK
- 2023LBC Radio, London
- 2022TV Klan, Albania — “Opinion” economic and political affairs programme (also April 2021)
- 2021Dritare TV, Albania — “Shqip” programme
- BBC World Service — Main News, morning programme (Economics Forum)
Academic video contributions
Recorded academic discussions and lectures for the IZA World of Labor and the Royal Economic Society.
- IZA World of Labor — panel discussion on the Economics of Education with Daniel Hamermesh (University of Texas at Austin), Eric Taylor (Harvard University) and John Friedman (Brown University), 2023
- “Is it worth going to University?” Royal Economic Society public lecture series, 2018
- “Why mixing with bright kids is good for learning and why it pays to study hard at university” Royal Economic Society public lecture series, 2018
Blogs & networks
VoxEU / CEPRLSE Business ReviewThe Conversation UKLSE British Politics and PolicyAdam Smith Institute blogDiscovery Graduates blogEconomics of Higher Education NetworkThe Young Fabian blogMy Science NetworkPublic Finance magazineESRC Annual MagazineCentrePiece (CEP, LSE)
Contact
University of Sussex
Department of Economics
Room 277, Jubilee Building
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH
London School of Economics
Centre for Economic Performance
Room 2.05, Lincoln’s Inn Fields Building
Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE