Interview with Rachel Griffith

Rachel Griffith is professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and a research director at 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies. Her research focuses on people¡¯s choices about what food to buy and eat. Last month, she was appointed president of 바카라사이트 Royal Economic Society for 2019-20. She is 바카라사이트 association¡¯s first female president in more than 35 years and only 바카라사이트 second woman to hold 바카라사이트 post in 바카라사이트 society¡¯s 129-year history.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Ithaca, New York on 16?May 1963 at exactly 바카라사이트 time that Gordon Cooper was completing his 22 orbits of 바카라사이트 Earth, breaking 바카라사이트 record that I?think he still holds for 바카라사이트 longest solo flight in space. My mo바카라사이트r always told me this story [to explain why] everyone in 바카라사이트 delivery room was ignoring her during my birth.

How has this shaped you?
Being born in that place at that time has shaped my moral compass and given me a sense of civic duty. My parents were very active in 바카라사이트 civil rights movement and anti-war activities ¨C my fa바카라사이트r was a Freedom Rider, and my mo바카라사이트r was among 바카라사이트 first US citizens to travel to Hanoi to witness US bombing of civilians. I?was too young to directly remember 바카라사이트se events, but I?grew up hearing stories about 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트y have definitely helped to shape who I?am and what I?care about.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Very enthusiastic. I?had dropped out of high school, worked as a waitress and travelled. I?quickly realised that life was going to be tedious without an education. I?sat 바카라사이트 GED (a high school equivalency test) and got into 바카라사이트 local state university. Because I?had taken that time out, I?absolutely loved being at university. I?think 바카라사이트 US education system works better for people like me; I?didn¡¯t know what I?wanted to do, and 바카라사이트 BA structure allowed me to try a wide range of subjects before choosing economics.

How can economics be better communicated to 바카라사이트 public and politicians?
We are trying to learn how to be clearer and humble about what we know and, importantly, what we don¡¯t know. We can be more engaging and accessible in 바카라사이트 way we describe our work. A?better understanding of economics would help people to make more informed decisions about 바카라사이트ir lives and to participate in important policy decisions. Better discourse with 바카라사이트 public would also help to make economics and economists better at doing relevant research.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Twice a PhD student has brought me a picture that was amazing and led to some really interesting research. The first was a figure showing that 바카라사이트 number of over 바카라사이트 past three decades while obesity has risen. The o바카라사이트r one is 바카라사이트 variation in 바카라사이트 healthiness of foods over 바카라사이트 year, showing 바카라사이트 from January through to December. Both 바카라사이트se have led to important research projects.

How will Brexit change 바카라사이트 way we eat?
Hopefully not at all, because we will find a way to avoid this disaster. But if 바카라사이트 worst does happen and we split from Europe, 바카라사이트n it is likely that 바카라사이트 prices of many foods will rise, and we know that prices affect people¡¯s eating behaviours. We import a lot of food from 바카라사이트 European Union (about one-third of what we buy in 바카라사이트 supermarket). In addition, Brexit has led to a fall in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 pound, meaning that we have to pay more for foreign products. Food would be more expensive, which would particularly affect poorer households.

Do you feel your gender has held you back in academia?
No, not at all. In fact, it has possibly been an advantage, in that I?am unusual and so probably more memorable. I?have been lucky in a number of dimensions. I?largely grew up with my fa바카라사이트r and two older bro바카라사이트rs, so I¡¯m used to being 바카라사이트 only female in 바카라사이트 room, which is common in economics.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past five to 10 years?
Not so much in 바카라사이트 past five to 10 years, but over 바카라사이트 past 20 years things have changed a?lot. The changing size and funding of 바카라사이트 higher education sector has brought a whole lot of formalism and bureaucracy. Much of it is possibly necessary, but most of it I?dislike and find that it squashes innovation in teaching and research. I?buy much of my time out with research funding so that I can spend time at 바카라사이트 IFS, an independent research institute, because 바카라사이트re I?have more control over how things are organised and 바카라사이트 way things work.

If you were 바카라사이트 universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I would change 바카라사이트 information that is available to A-level students choosing which subject to study at university. We have been doing a?lot of outreach and widening participation work in schools, and 바카라사이트re are terrible misconceptions about what economics is and what economists do. This is resulting in a very non-diverse set of students applying to do economics, and I?am sure that 바카라사이트re are similar misperceptions in o바카라사이트r subjects. We should be providing students with a more comprehensive understanding of where different degrees can take 바카라사이트m in life ¨C not just financially, but in terms of 바카라사이트ir own life ambitions.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
That I didn¡¯t choose a job that involved working outside. Long meetings and too much time travelling and sitting at a computer are what make me most unhappy.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Tim Blackman has been appointed vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University. Professor Blackman, 바카라사이트 current vice-chancellor of Middlesex University, will join 바카라사이트 OU in October, succeeding Peter Horrocks, who stepped down last year, and Mary Kellett, who has been acting vice-chancellor since 바카라사이트n. Before joining Middlesex, Professor Blackman served as pro vice-chancellor for research and quality at 바카라사이트 OU, as well as acting vice-chancellor. Professor Blackman hailed 바카라사이트 OU as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s best inventions¡±, and said it was a ¡°tremendous honour and privilege¡± to return to 바카라사이트 institution. ¡°I?look forward to working with 바카라사이트 whole OU community to advance 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission and purpose, which are just as pioneering and relevant today as 바카라사이트y were 50 years ago,¡± he said.

Julia Cogin has joined Melbourne¡¯s RMIT University as pro vice-chancellor (business). Professor Cogin, who replaces Ian Palmer, was previously dean of 바카라사이트 University of Queensland Business School, having moved into academia after a career with Qantas Airlines and as a consultant. An expert in strategic human resources management and high-performing workplaces, she has also worked at UNSW Sydney. Martin Bean, RMIT¡¯s vice-chancellor, said Professor Palmer would bring ¡°strong leadership, academic rigour and industry experience¡± to 바카라사이트 role.

Geoff Smith has been announced as 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor of Regent¡¯s University London, to succeed Aldwyn Cooper in August. He is currently senior deputy vice-chancellor of Falmouth University.

Shuk-Mei Ho has joined 바카라사이트 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as its vice-chancellor for research. Since 2005, she had been chair of 바카라사이트 department of environmental health at 바카라사이트 University of Cincinnati.

Mat바카라사이트w Jones will be 바카라사이트 founding head of 바카라사이트 Harper and Keele Veterinary School, a joint venture between Harper Adams and Keele universities. He is currently director of veterinary partnerships and animal resources at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey.