Tim Besley

Sir Tim Besley is a School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE). His affiliations include the LSE School of Public Policy and the International Inequalities Institute. He holds prestigious fellowships from the Econometric Society, British Academy, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on political economy, development economics, public economics, and state effectiveness, with notable work on governance, trust, and institutional design.

Besley earned a DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford. He has directed initiatives like BEVERIDGE 2.0 and Cohesive Capitalism. His teaching includes EC201 (Microeconomic Principles) and PP450 (Public Organisations). Key research themes include pandemic governance, media influence on policy, and the dynamics of organizational culture.

Major awards include Foreign Honorary Membership in the American Economic Association and leadership roles in the Econometric Society and Royal Economic Society. His work bridges theoretical economics with practical policy challenges, emphasizing equitable development and effective state responsiveness.