Professor of Public Economics and Taxation John Creedy will draw on over 40 years of research and experience for his inaugural lecture to provide insight into how economic modelling has helped shape tax and welfare policies.

Professor of Public Economics and Taxation John Creedy will draw on over 40 years of research and experience for his inaugural public lecture on Tuesday 10 May

Professor of Public Economics and Taxation John Creedy will draw on over 40 years of research and experience for his inaugural lecture to provide insight into how economic modelling has helped shape tax and welfare policies.

Renowned internationally for his work in labour economics, public economics and the history of economic thought, Professor Creedy has promised a "non-technical talk" where he explains how models have contributed to policy analysis specifically in tax and welfare.

'Economic models: Toyshop or practical workshop?' will address a common misconception that economic models are too abstract and bear little relevance to real problems and issues.

For example, tax, he says, matters to everyone.

"Tax changes inevitably involve winners and losers. So it’s important to have as detailed a picture as possible of the tax structure and how it can affect things like income distribution and labour supply."

Professor Creedy has been at the School of Accounting and Commercial Law since 2011, and shares his time between Victoria University and New Zealand Treasury, where he is a principal advisor in the Tax Strategy section.

Since graduating from University of Bristol and then University of Oxford in the United Kingdom (UK), Professor Creedy has been a professor at a number of universities including Durham University in the UK, Pennsylvania State University in the United States, and most recently University of Melbourne where he was the Truby Williams Professor of Economics.

Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says Professor Creedy's wealth of experience and knowledge is an asset to the university.

"As well as extensive experience in the academic world, Professor Creedy’s skills have proven hugely valuable to the public sector, particularly in his current position at Treasury and through his links with government departments in the UK and Australia," Professor Guilford says.

"His output of research is phenomenal, with thirty-six books, fifty-eight book chapters and about 275 journal articles bearing his name.

"His published material is indicative not only of the breadth of his knowledge, but also demonstrates the many ways his expertise can provide insight into some of the big social issues of our time such as pensions, welfare changes and social inequality.

"It is a privilege to count Professor Creedy as a member of the Victoria community."

• What: Inaugural lecture by Professor John Creedy – Economic models: Toyshop or practical workshop?
• When: 6pm, Tuesday 10 May
• Where: Old Government Building, Lecture Theatre 1 (GBLT1), Lambton Quay
• RSVP: rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with 'Creedy' in the subject line, or call 04-463 6700.

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