PhD Title

A Critical Assessment of the European Union's Economic Policies Towards the People's Republic of China

Supervisors

Professor Christopher M. Dent and Professor Malcolm Sawyer (Economics, LUBS)

Research Study

My research focuses on the international dimension of European economic policy, exemplified by the case of China. However, it extends the classical macroeconomic growth and stabilization policies by also taking into account the more recent considerations about environmental constraints and sustainable development.

The research consists of two parts: first a macroeconomic evaluation of current and past policies largely based on aggregate level data. Second, an investigation of the political economy dynamics (economic theory, lobbying by interest groups and ideological positions) determining the formation of the European Union's economic policies towards China. In order to establish a detailed perspective on these issues, the research will compare and contrast the situation and dynamics at both European level and in selected member countries.

Especially the political economy part calls, in terms of methodology, for a pragmatic approach, incorporating inter-disciplinary elements. While the work will apply a quantitative analysis of aggregate data common in economics, this will be complemented in the second part by game theoretical considerations and qualitative research approaches more common to political science. The research also broadly reflects my academic interests, which are international economics, development economics, international business and finance, political economy, and macroeconomic policy.

Background

My academic background is in economics and business studies, although I am very much a generalist. I have a Bachelor degree in Asian Pacific Business Administration from the University of Hertfordshire and a Master of Arts degree in Asian Pacific Studies from the University of Leeds. I also hold a Master of Science degree in Economics, Banking and Finance from the University of Glasgow for which I received the class prize of the Department of Economics, given annually to the best student of each master level degree programme.

Email: ml06jfw@leeds.ac.uk