Renowned professors appointed to UQ’s economics school

Two leading academics will soon join The University of Queensland’s School of Economics following a global search last year.

Professor Rodney Strachan and Associate Professor Markus Brueckner were chosen from a number of high-calibre candidates from around the world.

School of Economics head Professor Flavio Menezes said the professors were joining a world-class institution.

“Our latest hiring effort is part of our strategy to become the best economics department Australia has ever had,” he said.

“Professor Brueckner and Associate Professor Strachan will join talented academics and will increase our depth in econometrics and applied economics.”

Professor Strachan is currently a Professor of Econometrics at the Australian National University.

He received his PhD from Monash University, and has held previous positions at the University of Queensland, the University of Leicester and the University of Liverpool.

His current research interests include Bayesian analysis of time series, model uncertainty, subspace analysis, and time varying models.

Professor Strachan, who has published widely in leading journals including the Journal of Econometrics and the Journal of Applied Econometrics, will join the School on 1 July 2013.

Associate Professor Brueckner is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore.

With a PhD in Economics from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Associate Professor Brueckner’s research focuses on macroeconomic issues related to the economics of development, political economy and fiscal policy.

In a recent paper published in Econometrica, Professor Brueckner used the variation in rainfall shocks in sub-Saharan African economics to show that democratic change may be triggered by transitory economic shocks.

It shows that negative rainfall shocks are followed by a significant improvement in democratic institutions.

Professor Brueckner has built an outstanding research record since finishing his PhD. He will join UQ Economics on 1 December, 2014.

For more information on Researchers and Academics at the School of Economics, visit www.uq.edu.au/economics.

Media enquiries: Marnie-Anne Snow, 07 3365 4959.