Julien Mercille

Julien Mercille is Professor and Head of School at University College Dublin's School of Geography. His academic career spans over 15 years with significant contributions to critical political economy and health policy research.

Education:

• PhD in Geography (geopolitics and US foreign policy) from University of California Los Angeles (2007)
• MA in Geography from University of Kentucky
• BA in International Development Studies and Political Science from McGill University
• Professional Diploma in University Teaching & Learning from University College Dublin

Mercille's research focuses on the marketisation of health and social care systems, social policy, critical political economy, and geopolitics. His work critically examines neoliberal transformations in healthcare systems, particularly in Ireland, with emphasis on privatization, financialization, and the growing role of private equity in long-term care. He employs political economic frameworks to analyze power dynamics between state actors, private providers, and care workers, challenging conventional institutional perspectives on healthcare marketization. His research often centers on Ireland as a case study but draws broader European and global implications.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on healthcare privatization patterns across multiple sectors including long-term care, primary care, and hospitals. His work demonstrates increasing attention to private equity involvement in healthcare since 2021, alongside continued examination of neoliberal policy frameworks. The publications show methodological diversity combining qualitative interviews with policy analysis, and theoretical contributions developing political economic frameworks for understanding marketization processes. Geographically, while primarily focused on Ireland, his work increasingly incorporates comparative European perspectives.

Grants:

• Private for-profit home care providers: views and strategies on marketisation (Apr 2020-Mar 2021)
• The Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence: A New Model (Aug 2018-Apr 2019)
• Privatisation and labour 'flexibilisation' in the Irish health care sector (Mar 2018-Aug 2020)

Mercille actively coordinates numerous teaching modules including Dissertation, Critical Ideas in Geography, Geography Politics and Media, Research Design, and Health Care Crises. He serves as a columnist for The Sunday Business Post and The Journal.ie, regularly appears on television and radio as an expert on current affairs, and is a member of multiple professional associations including the Association for Heterodox Economics, Association of American Geographers, Geographical Society of Ireland, Union for Radical Political Economics, and World Economics Association.