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Studying for a Master’s degree in Economics at Warwick is more than attending lectures, submitting coursework, and sitting exams – it’s a transformative experience that shapes careers and lives. For sisters Neharika and Krithika Rajagopalan, who pursued their MSc Economics degrees in 2013 and 2017 respectively, their time at Warwick was more than an academic pursuit; it was a defining chapter that led them to impactful careers in development economics, sustainability, and mental wellness advocacy.

Choosing Warwick Economics: a family decision

Growing up in India (Chennai), Neharika and Krithika developed a passion for economics early on, nurtured by their parents’ discussions about policy and social issues. Their father, a self-made individual who pursued his education through government scholarships, instilled in them the value of giving back to society. Their mother reinforced these ideals, prompting thoughtful conversations about socio-economic challenges.

After completing her undergraduate studies at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai, Neharika sought global exposure and decided to pursue a Master’s degree abroad. The UK, with its financially viable one-year Master’s programmes, was an attractive option. She chose Warwick after hearing from peers and family about the University’s strong Economics course and student-friendly environment.

Krithika, following in her sister’s footsteps, also applied to Warwick, recognising its commitment to academic excellence and student wellbeing. Her journey to Warwick, however, was marked by deep personal loss. Just months before she was due to begin her studies, their father passed away suddenly. Encouraged by their mother’s unwavering support, Krithika decided to continue with her plans, knowing that Warwick would provide both academic rigour and a supportive environment. She recalls:

"Warwick wasn't just a university; it was a place that truly understood the needs of its students. The way the staff supported me after my father's passing - by offering accommodation near a resident tutor and extending kindness beyond policies - made all the difference in helping me settle in."

Making careers choices after graduation

Both sisters took their learnings from Warwick and applied them in impactful roles across development economics, sustainability, climate change, and monitoring and evaluation.

Neharika’s career began with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), where she worked in sustainable urbanisation under renowned Indian economist Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia. She later moved into consulting roles at Ernst & Young LLP, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), and IFMR LEAD, specialising in ESG strategy, policy& development, and sustainable development.

Krithika, meanwhile, worked with institutions such as IFMR LEAD, and professors from the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT on behavioural research studies, followed by roles at CLEAR/J-PAL South Asia and CEGIS, where she helped refine monitoring and evaluation frameworks and improve data accuracy in state governance.

The shift to independent consulting

Having gained valuable experience in roles within large international organisations, the sisters felt drawn to independent consulting, which led them to establish their own consultancy, Nivritti Advisory. They recognised that their work – focused on culture, sustainability, and mindset shifts – required an approach beyond traditional deliverable-based structures. Consulting allowed them to work autonomously, blending their complementary skills: Neharika’s expertise in sustainability advisory and writing, and Krithika’s strength in field interactions, data visualisation, and impact measurement.

Their consultancy has led them to meaningful projects such as climate budgeting for Chennai’s municipal governance in collaboration with C40 Cities, a study on establishing a wellness centre at IIT Madras, and policy brief on electronic health records' adoption in India funded by FCDO UK and released by the British High Commissioner and the Chief Economic Advisor in India. Their work brings together data-driven research with human-centred approaches, making an impact across policy, corporate sustainability, and mental wellness.

Sustainability as a core philosophy

For Neharika and Krithika, sustainability is more than environmental responsibility – it’s a way of life that encourages mindfulness, long-term vision, and conscious decision-making. They advocate for a return to India’s traditional philosophy of earning money rather than making money, emphasising that financial stability should coexist with ethical and sustainable practices. Neharika explains:

“Sustainability isn’t just about reducing carbon footprints or setting targets – it’s about making thoughtful decisions every single day. The smallest actions, when done mindfully, shape the future.”

Their work is guided by this ethos, ensuring that economic and environmental goals are integrated rather than treated as separate entities. This belief is central to their consultancy efforts, as they encourage corporations, governments, and individuals to adopt sustainable practices in ways that are practical, adaptable, and culturally relevant.

Giving back through DESHA DHWANI

Among their many initiatives, DESHA DHWANI stands out. The sisters launched this mental wellness platform in 2019, inspired by personal experiences and the realisation that a secure childhood plays a significant role in building resilience. Their workshops, which combine traditional Indian wellness practices with contemporary mental health approaches, are conducted across schools, colleges, and workplaces, helping individuals navigate stress and life challenges. Neharika reflects:

“Our personal experiences made us realise the importance of mental resilience. We were privileged to have a secure childhood, but many do not. With DESHA DHWANI, we hope to create awareness about mental wellness and help others develop inner strength.”

Both sisters are also passionate Carnatic singers, occasionally performing joint concerts. Music, like their work, remains a powerful tool in shaping perspectives, fostering wellbeing, and preserving cultural heritage.

Cherished memories from Warwick

Beyond the academic experience, Warwick holds cherished memories for both sisters. Neharika recalls her first experiences of independence – walking to Tesco at Cannon Park, savouring hot chocolate at the Library Café, and seeing snow for the first time. She fondly remembers the kindness of the lady who cleaned their rooms and even gifted her family Christmas presents.

For Krithika, Warwick was a place of community, support, and discovery. She spent time playing badminton and tennis, studying in the Economics Department’s common room, and navigating challenges with the help of university staff.

We are grateful to Neharika and Krithika for sharing their story with us, and we wish them every success in the future.

Top banner: Neharika (left) and Krithika (right)

To connect with Neharika and Krithika, please visit their LinkedIn profiles:

• Neharika Rajagopalan, (MSc Economics 2013), Independent Consultant, Co-founder Nivritti Advisory, Delhi
• Krithika Rajagopalan, (MSc Economics 2017), Independent Consultant, Co-founder Nivritti Advisory, Chennai

A new book by Bishnupriya Gupta published by Cambridge University Press has been launched at the British Academy in London.

An Economic History of India: Growth, Income and Inequalities from the Mughals to the 21st Century offers a major new economic history of India from the reign of Akbar in the sixteenth century to India’s post-independence integration into the global economy.

Over 50 delegates attended the launch to hear from a range of social science experts on the important role the new book plays in understanding India’s economic position in the world.

Describing a professional relationship spanning 25 years, Mark Harrison, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick and fellow of the British Academy introduced Bishnu’s influential work on Asian and Indian history. He described its significance in uncovering old myths and establishing new facts over a period of 500 years.

Bishnu then talked about the journey her research took to truly understand the effect of colonialism in India. She highlighted the need to take a long view, and a particular need to write about the impact of colonisation on the average person. How did they fare under British rule? How did they respond to globalisation? And who benefitted from the railways?

“To understand any period in history you need to understand what went before and what came after”

Tirthankar Roy, Professor in Economic History at the London School of Economics followed. He described the importance of understanding economic history to show growth and inequality – not just for specialists but for everyone.

Finally, Ilari Mäkelä, science communicator and podcast producer, discussed the questions the book raises around the great divergence debate, grounding history in the experience of real people, and social bias in policy implementation – particularly educational investment.

Bishnupriya Gupta said:

“I am happy to be able to bring this work to publication. The book has been based solely on evidence and data, and spanning economic, sociological and cultural study. I hope it answers the fundamental question - how do we know what we think we know?”

About the Author

Bishnupriya Gupta is Professor of Economics at University of Warwick and CAGE Research Director. She has published widely on industrial development in colonial India, gender norms in India and is a key contributor to the debate on the Great Divergence.

• An Economic History of India: Growth, Income and Inequalities from the Mughals to the 21st Century can be purchased from Cambridge University Press
• Listen to CAGE Research Director, Bishnupriya Gupta discuss her work on colonialism and the economic history of India for the On Humans podcast What about India? Moghuls, British and the Causes of Poverty

At the heart of our Department’s welcoming and inclusive community are our exceptional Student Mentors. These dedicated volunteers play a vital role in supporting new students as they transition into university life - offering guidance, sharing experiences, and helping to foster a sense of belonging from day one.

Through their empathy, approachability, and commitment, our mentors create a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and building connections. The Mentor Scheme not only strengthens our academic community but also helps students form lasting friendships and networks within the Department.

Each year, we celebrate the outstanding contributions of our mentors at the Mentor Award Celebrations—an opportunity to recognise those who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Students were invited to nominate mentors who made a meaningful impact, and we are delighted to announce the winners of the Mentor Awards 2024/25:

Commenting on the recommendations of the Tackling Violence against Women and Girls inquiry, to which she submitted written evidence, Professor Sonia Bhalotra said:

“The recommendations in the report are welcome, but could have gone further.

“I welcome the emphasis on prevention, but this should be extended beyond the focus on working with boys and girls in schools.

“Prevention-focused schemes which I am evaluating include the extension of unemployment benefits to men and women; incentives for employers to hire victims of abuse; community building to improve access to real-life social networks; expansion of IAPT or other access to mental health support; and changes to public opinion, alongside criminal justice reforms.

“The policy framework focuses on women and girls who have been victimized. For prevention we need to understand systematic drivers of VAWG in the full population-- all women are at risk.

“While it is good to see the report calling for the Home Office to ‘identify and share lessons learnt from local initiatives,’ a large research community is working to evaluate the success of VAWG policies in the UK, Europe and further afield. There are creative new strategies around the world which could inform UK policy once rigorously evaluated.

“At the same time, we are trying to understand the home and work environment to identify drivers of VAWG and, in this way, identify new policy interventions.

“This long-neglected issue is gaining policy salience the world over, and I look forward to seeing the Government’s response to the committee’s recommendations.”

NOTES

• The Committee's report is available here: Tackling Violence against Women and Girls
• Professor Bhalotra’s written evidence is available here: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/138304/html/
• Professor Bhalotra’s research on VAWG includes analysis of domestic violence and workplace sexual harassment. Her research investigates the importance of employment (or financial independence), social isolation, mental health problems, and exposure to misogyny on social media. Among policies she is evaluating are legislation that subsidises employers who hire victims of domestic abuse, and legislation that makes firms liable for workplace sexual harassment. Professor Bhalotra has a large ongoing programme of research on violence against women and girls (VAWG) for which she has been awarded 2.5 million euros by the European Research Council Advanced Grant scheme. The aim of this work is to produce a robust tapestry of evidence to guide policy and further scholarship in this domain.

Dr Samuel Obeng travelled to Covenant University, Nigeria, last month as an invited panellist for the Covenant University Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) 2025 National Budget Roundtable Conference.

Dr Obeng was accompanied by Professor Franklyn Lisk, Warwick University Co-Academic Director for Africa. The Warwick Africa Hub co-organised the conference, which is held annually as a forum for stakeholders to discuss the role of national budgeting in socio-economic development.

The 2025 National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion addressed the theme of “National Budgeting as a critical tool for reducing poverty and Inequalities in the era of energy transitions.”

Attendees in-person and online included students, faculty, and policymakers within and outside Africa, including Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who delivered the keynote address.

Professor Lisk and Dr. Obeng both spoke at the conference. In his remarks, Dr Obeng argued that the national budget provided a twin opportunity to deal with poverty and inequality through energy transitions. He suggested that a bottom-up incentive model where States that hit energy or poverty reduction targets receive increased funding should be considered.

During the visit Dr. Obeng was inducted as Senior Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant University, Nigeria.

Other highlights of the visit included a meeting with Covenant’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Anake, and executives of Covenant University to discuss areas of possible collaboration, and a meeting with Professor (Mrs.) Augustina Oluwatotin Matthew, Head of the Department of Economics.

Reflecting on the visit, Dr Obeng said: “It was a truly exciting experience to be part of the policy-making conversations in Nigeria. I was especially encouraged when the Federal Minister highlighted my suggestions as valuable and even noted that some current government actions are already in line with them. I’m really looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate in my new role as Senior Research Fellow at CEPDeR.”

External reports:

· FG Targets Five Million Nigerians To Access Solar, Wind, Hydro, Coal-based Energy Systems – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

· University of Warwick Seeks Deeper Collaboration with Covenant University

· DIaDeRC-ASMN at Covenant Varsity’s CEPDeR NBR 2025 - DIaDerc

· CEPDeR’s National Budget Roundtable & Panel Discussion (NBR2025): – Center for Economic Policy and Development Research

May’s local elections saw a surge in support for the right-wing populist party Reform. What might be driving this swing away from mainstream parties? Do the results reflect what voters are seeing in their local environment? Professor Thiemo Fetzer explores the findings of a recent studyLink opens in a new window with Jacob Edenhofer and Prashant Garg, published in Economics Letters.

"In towns across England and Wales, empty storefronts stand as silent witnesses to economic transformation. These vacant premises represent more than just business failures. They are visible wounds in the social fabric of communities, and as our research demonstrates, powerful drivers of political change.

Our study reveals a significant positive association between high street vacancy rates and support for the right-wing populist UK Independence Party (UKIP) between 2009 and 2019. This finding adds crucial empirical evidence to the growing literature on the relationship between local economic conditions and populist voting behaviour.

Beyond Economic Metrics

While economists often focus on traditional measures like GDP growth, unemployment rates, or wage stagnation, our research suggests that the visible manifestations of decline may matter more for political behaviour than abstract economic indicators. High street vacancies serve as daily visual reminders of community deterioration that affect all residents, not just those directly impacted by job losses.

"The perception of local decline versus actual economic metrics is what matters," I noted in recent discussions of this work. "Economic welfare has improved overall, but structural transformation creates winners and losers." This distinction is crucial. A community might show positive economic growth on paper while experiencing the hollowing out of its social spaces. The empty café where pensioners once gathered, the shuttered shop where neighbours exchanged local news—these losses represent more than economic transactions. They represent the erosion of community bonds.

The Social Consumption Crisis

High streets traditionally served dual functions: economic exchange and social consumption. The latter function - providing spaces for community interaction -has been largely overlooked in economic analyses of retail decline. Our research highlights how the disappearance of these social consumption spaces contributes to isolation and loneliness, particularly among older residents who are less integrated into digital social networks. This isolation creates fertile ground for populist messaging that promises to restore a lost sense of community and belonging and creates constituencies receptive to narratives of restoration and blame.

The Geography of Resentment

The spatial distribution of high street vacancies reveals important patterns. Areas experiencing the most visible decline aren't necessarily the poorest regions, but often those undergoing rapid structural transformation as consumption patterns shift online.

Particularly concerning is the persistence of these vacancies. Our data shows that many premises remain empty three years after retail chain collapses, creating lasting changes in community perceptions and political attitudes.

Narrative Exploitation

Populist parties have proven adept at channelling grievances about visible decline into political narratives that blame outsider groups. Ironically, our research shows that immigrants rarely settle in declining areas, yet anti-immigration sentiment often flourishes there.

"Populist politicians exploit local grievances," I noted in a recent interview. "The decline of local journalism creates an information vacuum filled by social media and populist messaging." This narrative exploitation is particularly effective because the causes of high street decline - including technological change, shifting consumption patterns, and global supply chains - are complex and impersonal. Populist narratives offer simpler explanations and identifiable culprits.

Policy Implications

Our findings suggest several potential policy interventions:

• First, ownership structure matters. Areas with less-fragmented commercial real estate ownership appear better equipped to weather structural economic changes. Policy makers should consider incentives for coordinated ownership or management of high street properties.
• Second, digital infrastructure investment could extend the reach of agglomeration economies to declining areas. Remote work opportunities might allow residents to participate in dynamic urban economies while maintaining local community ties, a point I've emphasized in discussions about the potential benefits of population migration to the countryside.
• Third, communities need alternative social consumption spaces. As commercial venues decline, public investment in community centers, libraries, and parks becomes increasingly important.
• Finally, revitalizing local journalism could help counter populist narratives about decline by providing accurate information about local conditions and fostering community dialogue.

Conclusion

The relationship between high street vacancies and populist voting behaviour reveals how changes in the lived environment shape political preferences. Empty storefronts represent more than economic statistics—they are visual signifiers of community transformation that affect residents' sense of place and belonging.

By understanding these connections, we can develop more effective responses to the challenges of structural economic change and the political reactions they provoke. The future of our democratic politics may depend on how we address not just the economic realities of decline, but its visible manifestations in the spaces where community life unfolds."

• Thiemo Fetzer, Jacob Edenhofer, Prashant Garg (2025) Local decline and populism, Economics Letters, Volume 252, 2025, ISSN 0165-1765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112360.

Professor Roger Farmer, Emeritus Professor Michael Waterson and former Dean of Warwick in London Professor Abhinay Muthoo are among the 58 Founding Fellows announced by the Royal Economic Society this week.

The Fellowship is a new initiative from the Royal Economic Society and recognises economists who have made a significant contribution to the discipline and to society beyond academia, in the judgement of an expert panel. The new Fellows are entitled to use FREcon as a postnomial.

Warwick Economics works closely with RES on several initiatives, including the hosting of their flagship event - RES annual conference at Warwick in 2019. Many of our academics, alumni and current students of the Department engage in the work of RES networks like UK Women in Economics Network, Diversity & Inclusion Network and Discover Economics campaign.

Roger Farmer is Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Economics at UCLA and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Virginia. His research examines the connection between market psychology and macroeconomics, and the implications for fiscal policy. He said:

“I am honoured to be nominated as a Founding Fellow of the Royal Economic Society and I look forward to contributing to the success of the organization in the years to come.”

Mike Waterson is Emeritus Professor of Economics at Warwick and was Head of Department of Economics at Warwick between 1999 and 2002. He retired from academia in 2020 but maintains close links with the Department through his involvement with the CAGE research centre. Mike commented:

“I am very pleased to be included in the group of founding fellows of the RES. I have always believed that economics should be applied for the good of society and I have been engaged, over the years, in many diverse policy activities alongside my academic career, particularly in the competition sphere.”

Abhinay Muthoo was Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick until 2022 and Head of the Department of Economics between 2008 and 2016. During his time as Head of Department, CAGE Research Centre was established and the Department affirmed its reputation for research quality in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.

Head of Department Professor Jeremy Smith said:

“Many congratulations to Roger, Mike and Abhinay. It is an indication of the standing of the Department that the RES awards fellowships to 3 individuals who are closely tied to the Department. We look forward to building upon our existing relationship with the RES.”

RES President Prof Sir Chris Pissarides, who chaired the judging panel, said:

“The panel was impressed by the depth and breadth of the applications it considered, with representation from academia, the public and private sectors and those working in schools. Through their applications our new Fellows demonstrated the impact they have made not just in their roles, but to the wider economics profession. We congratulate them and look forward to working with them to advance the RES vision: that economics be understood, advanced and applied for the good of society and the world around us.”

We are delighted that Josef Chen, a former student of the Department of Economics has been listed in the 10th edition of Forbes Europe 30 under 30 List for 2025. The list, published by Forbes annually, recognises exceptional achievements of 30 individuals under 30 years old, in 19 different categories.

Josef, who graduated with a BSc Economics, Politics and International Studies in 2023, has been listed in the Manufacturing & Industry category alongside his business partners, Piers Millar and Ivan Tregear, for creating Kaikaku, a robotics and AI startup that raised $4 million to scale the next generation of restaurants where repetitive tasks are automated so that humans can focus on the hospitality part.

The Forbes profile gives praise to Josef and his co-founders of Kaikaku for pioneering food-safe 3D-printed plastic components and manufacturing all of their hardware and software in-house at a central London lab behind its robotics-powered restaurant.

We asked Josef to tell us more about his career to date and his innovative business venture and here is what he said:

What was your career ambition after graduating from Warwick in July 2023?

"After graduating from Warwick, I was offered a place on the MSc programme at Imperial College London. But by then, I had already experienced investment banking, private equity, and venture capital through internships, and realised I wasn’t built to just analyse other people’s companies. I wanted to build, not watch. I felt a deep urgency to create something that could reshape the world. So, I decided to channel my creative energy into setting up Kaikaku rather than doing the MSc course.

In under a year, we launched the UK’s first robotics-powered restaurant with a fully operational site in London, open to the public, where our engineers work behind a one-way mirror. We call this our “living laboratory” because it allows us to iterate daily and gather feedback from paying customers in real time. That speed and obsessive execution earned me a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30, but the real credit goes to the entire team for their tenacity and true grit.

What is Kaikaku?

"Kaikaku is building the next generation operation system for restaurant chains, powered by robotics and AI but defined by customer experience. Our mission is to create the best restaurant experiences by building the world’s most vertically integrated restaurant hardware, software and AI.

Our first product is Fusion, a robot that can assemble more than 360 customised bowls per hour on autopilot, increasing throughput compared to a traditional operation by more than 300%. The goal isn’t to remove humans, but to automate repetitive processes so they can spend all their time delivering unique hospitality to our customers.

How did you come up with this idea?

"My parents opened a Chinese restaurant in a small Austrian town after immigrating from China. Growing up in that household meant 14-hour shifts stacking used dishes and translating stacks of German documents into Chinese starting when I was just 6 years old. That kind of trauma stays with you. Especially a hatred towards your parents for making you work while all your friends are spending their childhoods playing video games.

So, as a teenager, I swore I would never follow my parents and set foot in the restaurant industry again. But then, my mom said something that turned all my hatred into a lifelong challenge: “Making you work in the restaurant was the only time me and your dad as restaurant owners got to spend time with you.” Few weeks later, Kaikaku was born.

What does ‘Kaikaku’ mean?

“Kaikaku” means radical change in Japanese. While most of the food industry embraces Kaizen, the philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement popularised by Toyota, we take a different path. We’re fundamentally rethinking the entire system.

What’s your key business goal and how are you going about it?

"I want to be synonymous with restaurants just like Bernard Arnault is synonymous with luxury goods. While still very early, we’ve already proven our ability as an extremely lean but top-tier team, to consistently ship technology 10 times faster and cheaper than most of our competitors. We are excited to announce a string of significant partnerships very soon!

What’s your vision for the restaurant of the future?

"I imagine it to be an extremely personal and human experience with technology handling everything that’s transactional. By removing the repetitive grind, our team can focus on what truly matters: the customer. Robotics doesn’t replace the human touch but enables it.

What Warwick skills and experiences shaped you?

"For me it’s time management. Warwick’s community gave me the motivation and energy to achieve more. For example, during COVID, I launched a nonprofit alongside 15 other Warwick students where we digitised 250+ restaurant menus across the Midlands to allow for digital ordering.

What was the most valuable part of your BSc in Economics, Politics & International Studies?

"The most important aspect of my degree was learning to think in an interdisciplinary way. Economics and Politics may seem like separate fields, but in the real world, they’re deeply interconnected. For example, economics taught me how to dissect market behaviours and incentives, while politics helped me understand the power structures and institutions that influence those behaviours.

This combination has been key in shaping how I approach real-world challenges like incentive structures behind restaurant operations and how technology can reshape that. It’s helped me design solutions that are not just innovative, but practical, by considering the entire ecosystem, from people to processes to technology."

We thank Josef for this interview and congratulate him on his success.

We are delighted to report that two MSc Economics students from Warwick and three Monash University student's dissertations have been added to the Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers (WM-ESP) series portal:

• Jiping Shi, MSc Economics, Warwick: "News Uncertainty and Signaling Effects of Monetary Policy"

• Elibeth Cirilo Mendoza, MSc Economics, Warwick: "Does subsidised promotion of LPG affect health outcomes? A revision of evidence"

The WM-ESP portal showcases the top innovative and original research papers written by Warwick and Monash undergraduate and postgraduate students. Since its launch in September 2021 the WM-ESP portal has acknowledged 85 undergraduate and postgraduate students for their exemplary work and contribution to the research environments in both departments.

The scheme aims to shine a spotlight on the issues that young economists are studying to understand and solve through their academic research. The choice of topics varies widely, and so far, have included topics in the areas of monetary policy, sustainable economic growth, labour supply and immigration, education, climate change, gender inequality and healthcare.

We congratulate our students for this fantastic achievement and for the fascinating research that they have conducted; we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Related Links

Top Economics student research showcased on Warwick Monash portal for the third year running, 23 October 2024

Sixth suite of top Economics student research papers showcased on Warwick Monash portal, 21 February 2024

The ESRC Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE III) saw its official launch this week during the CAGE Africa Conference.

The one-day event, attended by more than 50 national and international delegates, included presentations from leading academics and a keynote address - the 2025 Crafts Lecture - delivered by Leonard Wantchekon, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and founder of the African School of Economics.

• Devesh Rustagi (University of Warwick) opened the conference with a presentation on his work around successful cooperation using examples from the Arsi Oroma people in Ethiopia.
• Carolina Kansikas (University of Warwick) discussed her research into cash flow design and the challenge for households in near and extreme poverty with examples from rural households in Kenya.
• Leah Gardner (London School of Economics) presented highlights of her research into how and when the US came to have such a large influence in Africa, focusing on the interwar and post war period.
• Nonso Obikili from UNESCO focussed on the role of the environment in shaping African history and the way crop choices play a part in political organisation.

The 2025 Crafts Lecture - Building State Capacity: The Role of Institutional Experimentation and Scientific Innovation - was delivered by Professor Leonard Wantchekon. The lecture is available on the CAGE YouTube channelLink opens in a new window.

The conference was closed by Professor Mirko Draca with a presentation on the mission and research plans of CAGE III. Under Professor Draca's leadership CAGE's goal is "to make 'what works, work' and to measure hidden things which influence policy development, such as norms, implicit incentives and analytical frames.

Two final speakers highlighted different aspects of CAGE's planned programme. Dr Nikhil Datta co-leads an ambitious study using very large data sets to explore aspects of the UK planning system, one of CAGE's flagship research projects; while Sam McLoughlin, Senior Campaign Manager for Discover Economics introduced delegates to the work Discover Economics and CAGE are delivering together to inspire the next generation of economists.

• For more information about CAGE's work visit their websiteLink opens in a new window.

Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window