He joined UQ’s School of Economics in 2001 having appreciated its research resources and the pluralistic approach of the then-Head of School, John Foster, whilst a Visiting Professor in the School in 1999. (Under current management, however, the School has become far more mainstream.) He had previously spent a decade as Professor of Economics at Lincoln University in New Zealand. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, obtaining a BA (first class honours) and PhD in Economics. His early academic positions were at the University of Stirling (1979–1984) and the University of Tasmania (1984–1991).