Nicholas Barr

Nicholas Barr is a Professor of Public Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in welfare state economics, pensions, higher education finance, and post-communist reform. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and has advised governments globally, including on pension reforms in Chile and China and higher education policies in the UK, Australia, and Hungary. His work emphasizes market-based solutions to social challenges, such as income-contingent student loans and risk-sharing pension designs.

Education:

• MSc Economics, LSE
• PhD Economics, UC Berkeley (Fulbright Scholar)

Key Roles:

• Member of Chilean Presidential Pension Reform Commission (2015)
• Specialist Adviser to UK House of Lords on Higher Education (2017-18)
• Advisor to World Bank, IMF, and Inter-American Development Bank

Research Focus:

Barr explores how market failures justify welfare state interventions, particularly in pensions and education. His advocacy for income-contingent loans has shaped UK tuition fee policies, and his critiques of interest subsidies in student loans emphasize fiscal efficiency.

Policy Contributions:

He co-authored influential reforms in Chile's pension system and England's 2006 higher education funding model. His work on social care financing and aging populations addresses long-term fiscal sustainability.

Awards & Recognition:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
• Fellow of the Royal Economic Society (FREcon)
• Top-rated UK 2014 Research Assessment Framework impact case study

Labs/Teams:

Active in LSE's European Institute and editorial roles for journals like the International Social Security Review.