Jaffrey Chair Inaugural Lecture: The Political Economy of Transitions

The Political Economy of Transitions: Work, Wages, and Well-Being in a Changing Economy

Economies and societies change and evolve, transitioning constantly. They are shaped by technological change, globalization, and the shift to a low-carbon future, and are deeply influenced by politics as well as markets. These transitions impact how work is organized, how much it pays, and how fulfilling it feels. In his inaugural lecture, Professor Keith Bender will draw on his 30 years of research into changes in public sector pay determination, education and skills mismatch, well-being, precarity, energy transition, and labour market policy to explore the human impact of economic transitions, weaving in the 100-year history of the Jaffrey Chair of Political Economy. He will examine who benefits and who is left behind, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of transitions and will invite the audience to consider the policies and choices that shape the future of work and well-being.

The lecture will also be livestreamed on the University of Aberdeen YouTube channel. For those attending in person, tea and coffee will be available on arrival.

About the Speaker

Professor Keith Bender is an applied microeconomist with a particular focus on labour economics. His research spans key questions about how institutions shape labour market outcomes, including differences between union and non-union workers, public and private sector employment, and the wellbeing and retirement behaviour of older workers. More recently, his work has explored the intersection of health and labour economics, examining how different types of labour contracts influence worker stress and health. He has also undertaken influential research on educational and skills mismatch in the labour market, especially among highly educated workers.

Prof. Bender is Co-Director of the University of Aberdeen’s Just Transition Lab, an interdisciplinary research centre studying how transitions, such as the energy transition in the North East of Scotland, affect communities and regions. He is an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Industrial Relations and a Research Fellow of the IZA. Prior to joining the University of Aberdeen, he held positions in the United States and internationally, including roles at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the US Social Security Administration.