James Banks

Professor James Banks is a leading economist at University College London, specializing in retirement economics, health disparities, and socioeconomic inequality. His work bridges microeconomic analysis with public policy, focusing on aging populations, pension systems, and the intersection of health and economic behavior.

• Key affiliations: Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
• Education: Implied PhD in Economics (based on career trajectory)

Research Interests: Banks' work explores how retirement decisions affect health outcomes, the international comparison of socioeconomic health gradients, and the economic consequences of aging. He has extensively studied the UK and US pension systems, wealth distribution, and the impact of policy reforms on labor participation.

Recent Publications reveal a focus on:

• Cognitive and physical benefits of extended employment
• Global inequality trends in mortality and health
• Cross-national tax equity analysis
• Longitudinal studies of disability and education

Scientific Contributions: Banks co-founded the ELSA study, a major data source for aging research, and has shaped debates on retirement savings adequacy and health policy. His work on the Deaton Review of Inequalities and UK Household Longitudinal Survey informs national and international policy.