Department of Economics
We pride ourselves in our teaching and research excellence.
“The best education is not just about learning standard materials and preparing for standard examinations. Students need to think like an economist and understand how data can support their argument. Those are the skills that matter in the real world! We think Royal Holloway is the ideal place for you to prepare for this challenging and exciting future.”
- Professor Dan Anderberg - Head of Department
Background and Focus of the Department
Royal Holloway College was set up in 1879 to expand university education to women. It became part of the world-leading University of London in 1900, and opened for male students in 1965. Based upon Vassar College in America, the College emphasises the 'liberal arts' model. That means that we do research at the international level to support research-led undergraduate teaching.
Royal Holloway merged with the other University of London traditionally women's college, Bedford College, in 1985. Bedford College had one of the leading Public Policy Departments in the country. Economics grew out of that Department in 1995. As a result, we are focussed on how economic theory and empirical analysis can be applied to important policy questions. Undergraduate teaching is our primary focus - our PhD programme is deliberately small and select. This distinguishes us from the other major research departments of Economics in the UK. We are also very policy-focussed.
In 2020, we decided to re-focus upon our roots and are developing new programmes in Economics and Data Science, and Health Economics, to go with existing strengths in Finance, Macroeconomics, and Labour Markets.
Our staff research and have impact on policy in areas such as the illegal drug market, violence against women, marriage equality, generational equity, environmental impacts on the developing world, manipulation of financial markets, attainment gaps in Higher Education, and the unfairness of the student loan system.
Our staff have PhDs from top international departments including the LSE, Harvard, Yale (etc.), and have taught at leading departments including the LSE, Harvard, Berkeley (etc.). We publish in the very top Economics journals such as the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economic Studies and the Economic Journal.
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School of Law and Social Science Helpdesk
For general enquires please contact the School of Law and Social Science Helpdesk
Email | Phone: +44 (0)1784 276883
