We are pleased to announce that Stefan Dercon has been appointed as Professor of Economic Policy.

Stefan is a world-renowned development economist and he is currently working as a Chief Economist for the UK Department for International Development (DFID). His groundbreaking research focuses on the application of microeconomics and statistics to the analysis of the central development challenges of growth and poverty reduction in poor societies, and the public policies required for change. 

The professorship is new and has been created jointly with the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford. In taking up the role, Stefan will also become Director of Oxford’s world-leading Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE). The professorship has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Open Society Foundations, a charity established by investor and philanthropist George Soros, and matched funding from the Blavatnik Foundation.

Speaking about his new role, Stefan said: “I am excited to be offered the opportunity to lead the renowned Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford, with the aim to make this the best place in the world for to conduct economic research on Africa, and the place to go to for the best policy advice on the challenges faced by the continent. I am delighted that I can join one of the top economics departments in the world, as well as contribute to better government and public policy across the developing world via the huge promise that the Blavatnik School of Government holds.”

The Blavatnik School’s Professor Sir Paul Collier, who is also current co-director of CSAE, said he is confident that Stefan's excellent work will inspire student and peers alike. He added: “He has the experience to drive the School’s contributions to public policy in Africa, especially given his extensive work across the continent, from Ethiopia to Tanzania. Our thanks go out to the Open Society and Blavatnik Foundation for making this possible.”