Richard Blundell

Richard Blundell is the David Ricardo Professor of Political Economy at the Department of Economics, University College London (UCL), and Co-Director of the ESRC Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). His research focuses on tax policy, labor economics, microeconometrics, and public policy, with particular emphasis on inequality, consumption, savings, and labor supply dynamics. He has held visiting professorships at UBC, MIT, and Berkeley, and has been recognized with a CBE (2006), a knighthood (2014), and honorary doctorates from multiple universities.

Blundell's work includes leading the Mirrlees Review on tax design and the IFS-Deaton Review on 21st-century inequalities. He has contributed to understanding labor market reforms, welfare policies, and the impact of taxation on household behavior. Notable contributions span structural econometric models, panel data analysis, and revealed preference theory. His research also addresses topics like soft skills and wage progression, the productivity puzzle in the UK, and the implications of the pandemic on inequality.

Scientific Awards: Knight Bachelor (2014), CBE (2006), Honorary Doctorates from University of St.Gallen, Norwegian School of Economics, and others. He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society.

Advising and Grants: Blundell leads major research initiatives like the IFS Deaton Review and collaborates with institutions such as the Nuffield Foundation. His work often bridges academic research with policy design, influencing tax reforms and social welfare strategies.

Labs/Teams: Active at the IFS and ESRC Centre for Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy, focusing on policy evaluation and simulation models.