Professor Catia Montagna appointed Jaffrey Chair of Political Economy at the University of Aberdeen Business School

Professor Montagna specialises in Political Economy and has advised the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament on economic policy issues.

ABERDEEN, 05-Feb-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — A leading economist has been appointed Jaffrey Chair of Political Economy at the University of Aberdeen Business School, becoming only the sixth person to hold the prestigious role since it was established nearly a century ago.

Professor Catia Montagna, who joined the University in 2013, is School Director of Postgraduate Research and Director of Research in Economics at the University, and a Managing Editor of the Scottish Journal of Political Economy.

Professor Montagna specialises in Political Economy, which studies how economic relationships shape and are shaped by government policies and institutions.

She has advised the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament on economic policy issues, and served as a member of several professional policy and research committees.  In addition, she is due to take up a new role with the Robert Nicol Trust, a local charity that gives support to students from or based in the Aberdeen area.

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Montagna said: “I feel very honoured to be awarded the Jaffrey Chair of Political Economy, not least because of the impressive list of my predecessors. 

“My work aims to understand how different causal mechanisms work and, critically, how these mechanisms differ in different institutional environments.

“Ultimately my research aims to shed light on the policy dilemmas that arise from the perceived ‘limits’ that economic forces such as globalisation pose to modern policymaking – arguably one of the most pressing theoretical and practical problems of contemporary society.”

Professor Keith Bender, SIRE Chair of Economics and Business School Director of Personnel, congratulated Professor Montagna on her appointment to the role: “The Economics Department and the Business School congratulate Professor Montagna in becoming the next Jaffrey Chair of Political Economy.

“She will be an excellent addition to the outstanding economists who have held this long established chair.  Her research, teaching and public engagement are all exemplary.”

Notes for Editors

The Jaffrey Chair in Political Economy was established on 22 October 1920 by an endowment by Sir Thomas Jaffrey to the University of Aberdeen.

Sir Thomas Jaffrey, Bart (1861-1953) was the actuary (Chief Executive) of the Aberdeen Savings Bank from 1892-1929 and was knighted in 1920, given the freedom of the city in 1928 and created a baronet in 1931.  He was also a member of the University Court from 1924-1937.  There have been only six holders of the chair:

•         Sir Alexander Gray (1921-1934)

•         Lindley Fraser (1935-1944)

•         Henry Hamilton (1945-1964)

•         Maxwell Gaskin (1965-1985)

•         Peter Sloane (1985-2002)

•         Tim Barmby (2004-2016)

Issued byThe Communications Team
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SOURCE: University of Aberdeen