Max Nathan

Max Nathan is a Professor of Economic Geography at University College London (UCL), based at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA). He holds affiliations with the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), CAGE, IZA, and the Creative PEC. His PhD in Economic Geography and Spatial Economics was completed at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2011. Prior to academia, he co-founded the Centre for Cities think tank and the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, and worked in policy roles at the UK Department of Communities and Local Government. His research focuses on urban economics, regional development, public policy, and the impacts of diversity and innovation in cities. Nathan has contributed to influential studies on topics such as public sector relocations (e.g., the BBC’s move to Salford), creative industries, and the role of cultural diversity in fostering innovation.

Education:

• PhD in Economic Geography and Spatial Economics, LSE (2011)
• MSc in Social Policy and Planning, LSE (1998)
• BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, University of Oxford (1997)

Research Interests: His work examines urban economies, regional inequalities, public policy effectiveness, and the spatial dimensions of innovation and diversity. He is particularly known for analyzing how migration, creative industries, and policy interventions shape urban development. Recent projects include evaluating the economic impacts of major relocations and exploring the link between ethnic diversity and business performance.

Awards and Recognitions: While explicitly listed awards are not mentioned in the text, his contributions to policy-relevant research and leadership in organizations like the What Works Centre reflect significant professional recognition.

Advisory and Grants: Nathan has advised government bodies and led interdisciplinary projects on urban policy. His grants and collaborations span topics from tech city development to post-pandemic urban resilience. He actively contributes to evidence-based policy design through his affiliations with CEP and IZA.

Labs and Teams: As part of CASA, he collaborates with researchers on spatial data science and urban modeling. His work often integrates big data analytics to study economic dynamics in real-world contexts.