David Macdonald

David Macdonald is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus, within the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He holds an office in ART 275 and can be reached at david.macdonald@ubc.ca.

His research focuses on intersections of crime and criminal justice policy, public economic systems, and labor market dynamics. Notable areas include analyzing how institutional trust influences public support for policies like free trade and immigration, and exploring the socioeconomic factors driving political behavior and labor union dynamics.

In parallel to his economics-focused work, Macdonald has contributed to interdisciplinary research in dental radiology and healthcare systems, examining topics such as early cardiovascular risk identification through dental imaging, pediatric radiography accuracy, and frail elderly patient care strategies. His publications bridge social science and medical domains, reflecting a commitment to addressing both societal and clinical challenges through evidence-based approaches.

Recent scholarship highlights include investigating political trust effects on free trade attitudes (2024), dental imaging's role in cardiovascular risk reduction (2024), and the impacts of income inequality on civic engagement (2021). This dual focus on policy analysis and healthcare innovation underscores his methodological versatility and commitment to impactful research.