Edward Pinchbeck

Edward Pinchbeck (commonly known as Ted) is a Birmingham Fellow in the Department of Economics at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. His academic work bridges urban economics, health economics, and policy analysis, with a focus on infrastructure, place-based economics, and environmental factors affecting economic outcomes.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Economic Geography from the London School of Economics (2016)
• MSc in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics (2012)
• MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick (2003)
• PG CERT Higher Education (Associate level, 2016)
• RSA CELTA certification

Pinchbeck's research program centers on infrastructure and the interconnections between places, people, and policy. He investigates how locations' characteristics determine their responses to permanent or transitory shocks, and examines the effects of place and environmental quality on economic outcomes and health. His work crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, drawing from urban economics, health economics, and spatial analysis. One significant strand of his research examines the long-term effects of the "Beeching Axe" - the massive reduction in UK railways from the 1950s-1980s - on population distribution, skilled workers, and youth. Another innovative project investigates the economic costs of radon, a dangerous indoor pollutant and the second largest cause of lung cancer after smoking.

His publication record shows consistent output in top economics journals, with a clear focus on the intersection of place, policy, and economic behavior. The articles demonstrate methodological rigor in econometric analysis while addressing questions of significant policy relevance, particularly in housing markets, healthcare utilization, and environmental policy.

Pinchbeck has professional affiliations with the American Economic Association, the Royal Economic Society, and the Urban Economics Association. He has served as a referee for prestigious journals including Econometrica, Journal of Applied Econometrics, and Journal of Health Economics. His organizational contributions include serving on the committee for the Annual SERC conferences and organizing the London Health Economics Group meetings.

With over five years of practical experience working as an economist in UK government departments including the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills, Pinchbeck brings valuable policy-relevant perspective to his academic work. He actively seeks PhD students interested in urban, health, and public economics using quantitative methods, and occasionally has openings for research assistants on related projects.

His research program aligns closely with the work of City-REDI and WM-REDI, research initiatives focused on regional economic development and infrastructure.