Richard Blundell

Richard Blundell serves as the Ricardo Professor of Economics at University College London since 1984 and Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies since 1986. His distinguished academic career spans over four decades with significant contributions to economic research and policy.

His educational background includes:

• B.Sc. from University of Bristol (First Class, 1970-1973)
• M.Sc. in Econometrics from London School of Economics (1973-1975)

Blundell's research focuses on microeconometric methods applied to labor economics, consumer behavior, and public finance. His work bridges theoretical econometrics with empirical analysis of household behavior and policy evaluation, making significant contributions to understanding how tax and benefit systems affect work incentives and consumption patterns. His methodological innovations in panel data analysis and structural modeling have become standard tools in applied microeconomics.

His extensive honors include election to prestigious academies, major international prizes in economics, and recognition through knighthood in 2014. Notable awards:

• Frisch Prize from the Econometric Society (2000)
• IZA Prize in Labor Economics (2012)
• Knighthood for services to economics (2014)
• ERC Advanced Grant (2014)

Blundell has held significant leadership roles including President of the Econometric Society (2006), President of the Royal Economic Society (2010-13), and editorial positions at top journals including Econometrica. His research direction has been supported by substantial grants including the Leverhulme Personal Research Professorship and ERC Advanced Grant. He maintains active advisory roles at major economic research institutions worldwide including the Toulouse School of Economics and Barcelona GSE.