Centre for Applied Microeconomics

Microeconomics studies individual behaviour in an economy, ranging from decisions made by consumers or workers to strategic interaction of firms in markets. Understanding such behaviour is paramount when looking for ways in which the government can intervene to better align these decisions with society’s best interests. Applied microeconomics uses microeconomic theory and empirical methods to understand and predict economic agents’ decision-making and to design, and empirically test the impact of, such government interventions.

The areas of research interest of CAM's members include:

• Labour Economics
• Industrial Organisation
• Political Economics
• Regional Economics
• Economic Analysis of Law and Regulation

• Matakos, K., Savolainen, R., Troumpounis, O., Tukiainen, J., & Xefteris, D. Electoral institutions and intraparty cohesion. Forthcoming in Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics
• Bosker, M., & Westbrock, B. (2024). The network origins of the gains from trade. Journal of Economic Theory, 216, 105800.
• Rezaei, S., Rosenkranz, S., Weitzel, U., & Westbrock, B. (2024). Social preferences on networks. Journal of Public Economics, 234, 105113.
• Asproudis, E., Gedikli, C., Talavera, O., & Yilmaz, O. (2024). Returns to solar panels in the housing market: A meta learner approach. Energy Economics, 137, 107768.
• Xu, C., Jones, C., & Munday, M. (2020). Tourism inward investment and regional economic development effects: perspectives from tourism satellite accounts. Regional Studies, 54(9), 1226-1237.
• Feess, E., Grund, C., Walzl, M., & Wohlschlegel, A. (2020). Competing trade mechanisms and monotone mechanism choice. European Journal of Operational Research, 280(3), 1108-1121.
• Westbrock, B., Muehlfeld, K., & Weitzel, U. (2019). Selecting legal advisors in M&As: Organizational learning and the role of multiplicity of mental models. Journal of Management, 45(5), 2193-2224.
• Cox, A., Leonard, A., & Wohlschlegel, A. (2019). Quantifying the cost of foregone public goods spillovers on an island. Regional Studies, 53(8), 1170-1182.
• Traxler, C., Westermaier, F. G., & Wohlschlegel, A. (2018). Bunching on the Autobahn? Speeding responses to a ‘notched’ penalty scheme. Journal of Public Economics, 157, 78-94.
• Blackaby, D., Murphy, P., O’Leary, N., & Staneva, A. (2018). Regional pay? The public/private sector pay differential. Regional Studies, 52(4), 477-489.
• Pelosse, Y. (2016). The intrinsic quantum nature of Nash equilibrium mixtures. Journal of Philosophical Logic, 45, 25-64.
• Eisenkopf, G., & Wohlschlegel, A. (2012). Regulation in the market for education and optimal choice of curriculum. Journal of Urban Economics, 71(1), 53-65.
• Arin, K. P., Chmelarova, V., Feess, E., & Wohlschlegel, A. (2011). Why are corrupt countries less successful in consolidating their budgets?. Journal of Public Economics, 95(7-8), 521-530.
• Westbrock, B. (2010). Natural concentration in industrial research collaboration. RAND Journal of Economics, 41(2), 351-371.
• O’Leary, N., & Sloane, P. (2008). Rates of return to degrees across British regions. Regional Studies, 42(2), 199-213.
• Mainwaring, L., Jones, R., & Blackaby, D. (2006). Devolution, sustainability and GDP convergence: Is the Welsh agenda achievable?. Regional Studies, 40(6), 679-689.
• Blackaby, D., Booth, A. L., & Frank, J. (2005). Outside offers and the gender pay gap: Empirical evidence from the UK academic labour market. Economic Journal, 115(501), F81-F107.
• Blackaby, D., & Frank, J. (2000). Ethnic and other minority representation in UK academic economics. Economic Journal, 110(464), 293-311.