Applied Microeconometrics

Cluster members publish regularly in world-leading journals, including the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Human Resources, Journal of Public Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics, and the American Economic Journal series. These publications make major contributions to global research agendas in labour economics, family economics, human capital, and policy evaluation.

Our research combines cutting-edge econometric methods with uniquely rich data sources, including linked administrative records, longitudinal surveys, and novel text and network datasets. This enables us to identify causal mechanisms, develop innovative empirical methodologies, and generate rigorous evidence to address major economic and societal challenges.

International Leadership: Workshop on Labour and Family Economics (WOLFE)

The AME cluster demonstrates international research leadership through the organisation of the annual Workshop on Labour and Family Economics (WOLFE), hosted at the University of York. WOLFE brings together leading economists from top international institutions to present frontier research in labour economics, household economics, and applied microeconometrics.

The workshop has attracted keynote speakers from institutions including Stanford University, Dartmouth College, University College London, and the Norwegian School of Economics. WOLFE strengthens York’s international research profile, facilitates global collaborations, and provides an important platform for disseminating frontier research.

Research excellence and frontier contributions

AME research makes internationally recognised contributions across several core areas.

1. Labour Markets, Education, and Human Capital: We produce internationally recognised research on the determinants and consequences of education, skills, and labour market outcomes across the life course, in both high-income and low- and middle-income economies. Our work examines the returns to education, labour supply behaviour, retirement decisions, and the role of health, family background, and early-life conditions in shaping human capital formation, labour market opportunities, and economic inequality.
2. Household Behaviour, Gender, and Inequality: The cluster is internationally recognised for its research on household decision-making, gender inequality, and child development. Our work examines parental labour supply, intra-household allocation, and marriage decisions, generating important insights into the origins and persistence of economic inequality.
3. Social Mobility and Policy Evaluation: AME researchers conduct rigorous causal evaluations of education, welfare, and labour market policies to understand their effects on human capital, labour market outcomes, and social mobility. This research provides robust evidence to inform policy design and improve equality of opportunity.
4. Social Networks, Behaviour, and Political Economy: Using innovative data and econometric methods, cluster members analyse how social networks, information, and social norms shape economic and political behaviour. This work contributes to emerging research frontiers in applied microeconomics and political economy.

International research esteem and leadership

Cluster members hold prominent leadership roles in the international economics research community. Members serve as editors and associate editors of leading journals, including Economic Modelling and Empirical Economics, and act as referees for the world’s top journals, including the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economic Studies, and Review of Economics and Statistics.

Cluster members serve as grant reviewers and evaluators for major international funding bodies, including UKRI, the Economic and Social Research Council, the National Science Foundation, and the Nuffield Foundation. Members also hold leadership positions in major academic organisations, including the Royal Economic Society, and serve on scientific committees of leading international conferences.

These activities demonstrate the cluster’s strong international reputation and its active role in shaping global research agendas.

Policy impact and engagement

AME research has substantial and demonstrable impact on public policy and economic practice. Cluster members collaborate closely with government departments and policy institutions, including HM Treasury, the UK Department for Education, World Bank and the Scottish Government.

Cluster members regularly provide expert advice, policy reports, and consultation. Their research has informed education policy, welfare reform, and labour market interventions, contributing directly to evidence-based policymaking and improved economic outcomes.

Research environment and international collaboration

The AME cluster provides a vibrant, collaborative, and internationally connected research environment. Regular seminars, workshops, and conferences support the development and dissemination of frontier research.

Cluster members collaborate extensively with leading international researchers and institutions, including the Institute for Fiscal Studies, UC Berkeley, UCL, University of Oxford, Norwegian School of Economics, KU Leuven and several other universities worldwide. The cluster is committed to supporting early-career researchers and doctoral students, contributing to the development of the next generation of leading economists.