Lorraine Dearden

Professor Lorraine Dearden is Chair of Economics and Social Statistics at University College London's Social Research Institute (Faculty of Education and Society). Her work focuses on using quantitative methods and administrative data to inform public policy, particularly in education financing, intergenerational mobility, child welfare, and healthcare outcomes. She has significantly influenced higher education funding systems globally, notably designing income-contingent student loans in Colombia.

Education:

• PhD in Economics, University College London (1995)
• MSc in Economics, London School of Economics (1991)
• LLB and Bachelor of Economics (Hons), Australian National University (1986, 1983)

Research Interests:

• Evaluating education policies (e.g., Educational Maintenance Allowance)
• Student loan systems and fiscal sustainability
• Health-Education intersections via the HOPE study
• Policy analysis using linked administrative data

Achievements:

• Co-developed Colombia's income-contingent student loan system (2022)
• Influential work on reducing school drop-out rates via conditional cash transfers
• Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (2009)

Grants & Advising:

• Collaborations with governments in Japan, Brazil, and the US on student loan reforms
• Leadership roles in ESRC-funded research centers (ADMIN, PEPA)

Labs/Teams:

Leads the Social Research Institute’s interdisciplinary teams analyzing education, health, and economic policy. Collaborates with epidemiologists on the HOPE study to integrate health and education outcomes.