Departmental news
New student research featured on Warwick-Monash Portal
Seven outstanding undergraduate dissertations have been selected for inclusion in the Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers (WM-ESP) series, now available via the online portal. This year’s cohort features three papers from Monash University and four exceptional contributions from students in the Department of Economics at Warwick, listed below:
Daisy is a CIB Graduate Analyst at Wells Fargo. Her paper is titled: “How does the level of market liquidity impact the prevalence of herding in European equity markets?”
Cian is currently working as a Financial Analyst at Zero, and his paper is titled: “Fiscal Policy and Political Ideology: Did Austerity Reshape Britain's Political Landscape?”
Cian commented about receiving this recognition:
"I am honoured to have my dissertation published as part of the WM-ESP series and to receive recognition for my work from one of the world's leading economics departments."
"My paper explores the potential links between contractionary fiscal policy in the form of austerity-induced welfare cuts and the rise of right-wing ideology, a timely and relevant topic in the current global economic and political climate. I look to assess if areas more exposed to austerity cuts in the 2010 Conservative Budget saw voting habits shift towards the right of the political spectrum. Combining sociological and economic theory with a robust econometric specification, I hope to expand the debate around the often-overlooked consequences of fiscal policy and its implications at the society-wide level."
"I am also incredibly grateful for the help and invaluable guidance of my supervisor, Dr Samuel Obeng. Without his unwavering commitment and genuine interest in my work, this project would not have been possible."
Jacob is now studying MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at LSE. His paper is: “How Does Emissions-Charging Influence House Prices? Evidence From London's ULEZ”
Jacob commented:
“I was extremely happy to hear that my paper was going to be published on WMESP! My work explores the effect of London's Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), an emissions-charge, on the prices of houses in the city - I found that the charge actually causes a drop in prices of around 3-4%. My interpretation of this is that Londoners prefer the freedom of being able to drive over the more tangible benefits of cleaner air and less congestion. I'm grateful to the editors for selecting my paper, especially given how good everyone else's dissertations were - even just in my small seminar group. I'm also very grateful to everyone who gave me helpful comments over the year, especially my supervisor, Dr Subhasish Dey, for all his hard work!”
William, who is an Actuarial Analyst at WTW, looked at: “Immigration and Generalised Trust: Evidence from the European Refugee Crisis in Germany”
William said:
“I am truly honoured and grateful that my undergraduate dissertation has been selected for publication on the WM-ESP series. This was an extremely rewarding research project since it allowed me to apply three years of economic and econometric theory to a topic which personally interested me, whilst receiving invaluable support from my supervisor, Dr Neil Lloyd.
“My dissertation explored whether immigration affects generalised (interpersonal) trust, exploiting the European Refugee Crisis in Germany as a quasi-natural experiment with a Difference-in-Differences approach. This is a contemporaneously relevant question given how prominent immigration is as a topic area in political debates worldwide. By finding no evidence of a causal effect it suggests that, when evaluating the impact of immigration, policymakers should not focus on generalised trust (a key long-run driver of economic development) but rather other socio-economic outcomes.”
The WM-ESP portal celebrates the most original and innovative research produced by undergraduate and postgraduate students across both institutions. Since its inception in September 2021, the portal has featured the work of 92 students, highlighting their academic excellence and contributions to the research culture within the Department.
The initiative provides a platform for emerging economists to share their insights on pressing global and local economic issues. The range of topics explored by students is diverse, spanning monetary policy, sustainable growth, labour economics, immigration, education, climate change, gender inequality and healthcare.
Dr Cecilia Lanata-Briones, key member of the WM-ESP Editorial Board commented:
“Now in its ninth edition, the #WM-ESP series continues to showcase outstanding research from economics students at both Warwick and Monash. We’re proud to present high-quality work that not only reflects academic excellence but also encourages current and future students to engage deeply with research—developing critical thinking, gaining fresh insights, and contributing meaningfully to the field.”
We extend our congratulations to the students whose work has been recognised in this latest cohort. Their research reflects the intellectual rigour and curiosity that define our academic community. We wish them continued success in their future academic and professional pursuits.
To explore the featured papers, please visit the WM-ESP portal.
Five WLS students win Gold Warwick Award
We are delighted to announce that five Warwick Law students have recently achieved a Gold Warwick Award. Finalist LLB students Naveera Abhayawickrama, Tolu Adeyemo, Hailey Chu and Sara Duggal, were kind enough to share their experience of the Warwick Award and why they would encourage others to get involved.
Nurturing new talent with Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs and WMG announced the launch of their partnership for an inaugural Digital and Technology Solutions undergraduate degree apprenticeship programme in Birmingham.
This new initiative builds on the decade-long success of the firm's established London apprenticeship programme, offering school leavers a unique pathway to gain invaluable professional experience at Goldman Sachs while simultaneously earning a fully funded university degree in engineering.
This significant expansion underscores Goldman Sachs' deep commitment to fostering talent and investing in the UK's future workforce. It follows the firm's £1.5 million pledge earlier this year to the West Midlands Combined Authority levy transfer scheme. These funds are dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized businesses, charities, and social enterprises across the region to invest in staff development, with a particular focus on critical digital skills.
In Memoriam: Professor William Twining
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Professor William Twining, who passed away peacefully at home on 9 October 2025, aged 91. He joined Warwick Law School in 1972 and was the inspiration behind Warwick’s renowned Law in Context approach to study.
Dr Serena Natile to deliver session on Wages for Housework at the Resonate Festival
Dr Serena Natile will deliver a session on ‘Revisiting Wages for Housework’ at the Resonate ESRC Festival of Social Science, taking place on Monday 3 November 2025 in Leamington Spa. The event will consider the potential of utopian/dystopian evolutions of work, and how we might shape the future for human wellbeing. Join University of Warwick researchers for an evening of short talks from diverse perspectives of ‘Our Working Lives’.
New Dual-Action Antimicrobial Polymers with Anti-Inflammatory Properties
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Dr. Davide Piaggio Receives IPEM Early Career Award in Innovation
New partnership to drive agri-tech manufacturing forward in the UK
WMG, University of Warwick is part of a unique cross-Government partnership, with Defra digital, data, technology and security; Innovate UK and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), to support businesses to scale up agri-tech manufacturing in the UK.
Angela Eagle, Minister for Food and Agriculture announced the six-month pilot accelerator programme, AgriScale, at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit.
By focusing on accelerating product manufacturing, AgriScale fills a critical gap in the innovation pipeline, helping promising technologies move from validated prototypes to market quickly and reliably.
GLAM-E Lab collaboration brings open access to Wales’ national collections
The GLAM-E Lab, based at the University of Warwick, has collaborated with Amgueddfa Cymru Museum Wales to bring open access to Wales’ national collections.
Professor Arun Advani and CenTax make the case for tax reform at party conferences
Professor Arun Advani and the CenTaxLink opens in a new window team attended the Labour and Conservative party conferences again this year, hosting a total of four panels alongside the Chartered Institute for Taxation (CIOT), the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS).
Together with his fellow CenTax Director Dr Andy Summers (LSE), Arun made the case for structural tax reforms at the next Budget to remove distortions and boost growth, not just more tinkering with tax rates.
The CenTax team argued that the UK’s current tax system is so badly designed that there are still plenty of opportunities to both raise revenue and improve economic incentives by making sensible, research-informed changes.
CenTax at the Labour Party Conference
CenTax hosted two panels at the Labour Party Conference, one jointly with IPPR and one with the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
The CenTax/IPPR panel featured Andy Summers, Dan Tomlinson MP in his new role as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Yuan Yang MP, member of the Treasury Select Committee and Heather Stewart, Economics Editor at the Guardian. Carsten Jung from the IPPR chaired the discussion.
- Watch the discussion, which focused on how best to fund public services, here.
The Centax/CIOT panel tackled the question, ‘Can we design a tax system which taxes the wealthy and is pro-growth?’ with Arun arguing that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reform was a prime example of the opportunity to both raise revenue and improve efficiency, by reforming the tax base, not just increasing rates.
- Read more about it here.
CenTax at the Conservative Party Conference
CenTax also hosted two panel events at the Conservative Party Conference. The first, again with CIOT, asked ‘Can we design a tax system which taxes wealth and capital fairly and is pro-growth?’
- Read the CIOT report and watch the debate hereLink opens in a new window.
The second panel was co-hosted with the Centre for Policy Studies. Arun was a member of this panel alongside Daniel Herring of CPS and Harriet Baldwin MP (previously Chair of the Treasury Committee and current Shadow Business Minister). Arun highlighted several areas of the tax system that currently distort economic activity, including the £100k ‘tax trap’ created by the withdrawal of childcare support, arguing “it's a real cost that people who are doing well and could be earning even higher incomes and paying even more tax are reducing their hours or not taking that promotion.”
- Watch the debate hereLink opens in a new window
ENDS
- A full report with policy links is available on the CenTax website: CenTax at Party Conferences| CenTax
- Main Photo: Emma Chamberlain, Barrister and Co-Chair of CIOT’s Private Client (International) Committee, Lloyd Hatton MP, Member of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, Nichola Ross Martin, President, CIOT (chair), Arun Advani, Director, Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax), Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist, Institute for Government at the Labour Party Conference event.