Blake, D.

Professor David Blake is a leading academic at City, University of London, affiliated with Cass Business School. His research spans actuarial science, pension economics, behavioral finance, and longevity risk modeling. Key contributions include analyzing mortality trends post-Covid-19, designing pension fund strategies, and exploring cognitive biases in investment valuations.

• University: City, University of London
• School: Cass Business School
• Academic Rank: Professor

Research Interests: Blake specializes in longevity risk and capital markets, with a focus on mortality modeling, pension fund management, and behavioral economics. His work addresses systemic financial risks, retirement savings optimization, and the intersection of demographic trends with economic policy. Recent projects examine the impact of pandemics on higher-age mortality and the role of nudges in improving life-cycle savings.

Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2025–2021) emphasize longevity risk transfer markets, behavioral biases in finance, and mortality projections. Topics include pandemic-induced mortality shifts, pension de-risking strategies, cognitive modeling of retirement decisions, and critiques of economic forecasting. Co-authors include Cairns, A.J.G., Hunt, A., and Pickles, J.

Labs and Teams: Blake leads research at the Pensions Institute, collaborating with actuarial and financial experts on projects related to defined contribution pension plans, longevity swaps, and demographic economics. His work bridges academia and industry, influencing policy debates on retirement income and financial system stability.