معرفی
Professor Adrian Bell is Chair in the History of Finance at the ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading, where he also serves as Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Prosperity and Resilience). He has been a faculty member since 1994 and leads a major AHRC-funded project, 'The People of 1381', examining the Peasants' Revolt through interdisciplinary economic and social lenses. His research integrates medieval financial systems with modern economic theory.
His research interests span History of Finance, Medieval Economic History, Football Finance, Hundred Years War, and Higher Education Policy. He employs quantitative and archival methods to explore topics such as medieval real estate bubbles, credit systems, and pandemic economics. His work often bridges historical analysis with contemporary financial issues, such as the economic impact of football clubs on universities or lessons from the Black Death for modern crises.
The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend in medieval financial systems, behavioral and market finance, and socioeconomic impacts of sports and pandemics. His articles frequently analyze long-term economic patterns, price formation, and institutional finance, combining history with econometrics. Key themes include market efficiency, credit innovation, and the social consequences of financial decisions.
Professor Bell has received continuous research funding from prestigious bodies including the AHRC, ESRC, and Leverhulme Trust. Notable projects include:
- The People of 1381 (AHRC)
- The first real estate bubble in medieval England (Leverhulme Trust)
- The Soldier in Later Medieval England (AHRC)
- Advance contracts for wool supply (ESRC)
- Medieval foreign exchange and credit finance (ESRC)
He has advised on numerous collaborative research initiatives and contributes actively to public discourse through media appearances, podcasts (e.g., The Unexpected World of Business), and blogs. He is a frequent expert commentator on financial history and football economics. His work is supported by research teams and digital platforms such as 1381.online and the medievalsoldier.org database. He also contributes to academic leadership as former Head of the ICMA Centre and Associate Dean (International).
