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Doctor

Paul Blacklow

Lecturer

Economics

Orcid identifier0000-0002-4177-7567
  • Lecturer
    Economics
  • +61 3 6226 2283 (Work)
  • Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, Economics, Private Bag 84, Hobart, TAS, 7001

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research Narrative

I study the choices that people and households make and why they make them. When to start a family, whether to buy or rent, whether to work or study and how much to spend on each good are all examples of microeconomic household decisions. Changes in these choices can significantly impact the macroeconomy and society. By better understanding these decisions, we are able to explain and predict how people respond to policy and changes in social and economic conditions.

I primarily use econometrics and large household surveys to test and validate economic models of household choice, and estimate how households respond to policy and social change.  Combining the models, econometrics and data allows me to examine such topics as optimal labour and income taxes, the cost of living, education performance, gender wage differences, and the impact of caring on the development of human capital.

In the late 2010s I began working with UTAS colleagues in Experimental Economics. This has allowed me to apply my econometric skills to answer questions about behaviour that challenge traditional economic models. Developing new models and theories that include this non-standard economic behaviour, should result in better policy development, which more accurately predicts how people will respond.

 

In 2021 I began work with Dr Julie Campbell, PhD student Glen Henson and others at the Menzies Centre into the impact the COVID-19 lockdowns had on people with MS.  I recently joined the Multiple Sclerosis Research Flagship at the Menzies Centre and participated in their 2024 Symposium.    

 

Research Themes

  1. Household and Individual Behaviour and Choice: Modelling household and individual behaviour/choice with application to demand, labour, education, fertility and home finance decisions.
  2. Prices, Household Composition, Inequality and Welfare: Examining the interaction of prices and household demographics on the Cost of Living and Equivalence Scales and its impact on Welfare and Inequality and Poverty
  3. Applied Econometrics: Applying econometrics to unique datasets to answer questions for government and other policy-makers.

 

Research Interests

  • Gender Wage Gap
  • Health Impacts of Covid-Lockdowns
  • Prices and the Cost of Living
  • Inequality, Poverty and Welfare
  • Primary School NAPLAN Education Performance
  • Household Decisions and Behaviour
  • Tasmanian Economy

 

Research Skills

  • Data Analysis
  • Applied Econometrics (estimate, test and interpret models to quantify relationships).
  • Applied Microeconometrics (estimate, test and interpret models of choice)
  • Cost Benefit Analysis, Project Evaluation, Estimating Economic Impact, Estimating Demand
  • Stata, SAS, EViews, MS Excel (including VBA).
  • Experience in handling large and confidential data sets, such as HILDA, HES-CURF.

PROJECTS

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Showing page 1, grants 1 to 9 of 9
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Illicit Drug Reform in Tasmania - 2022 Update
Community Legal Centres Tasmania1 Dec 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $2,500; This project will estimate the costs of illicit drug use in Tasmania in 2020-21 and estimate the costs if the use of illicit drugs were decriminalised and so provide an estimate of the benefit of the decriminalisation of illicit drug use. It is an update of a previous report on the costs of Tasmanian illicit drug use in 2015-16 conducted in 2017 by the CI for the same funding body. Funded by: Community Legal Centres Tasmania ($2,500); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Tasmania-ASEAN Trade Relationship
Department of State Growth (Tas)1 Nov 2018 - 30 Jun 2021
People funded by this grant: Farrelly N, Raghavan M, Yamazaki S, Blacklow P
Project Total: $100,000; RT.109370 University of Tasmania $100k 151018 Funded by: Department of State Growth (Tas) ($100,000); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Illicit Drug Reform in Tasmania - A Cost Benefit Analysis
Tasmanian Association of Community Legal Centres Inc.1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $5,000; This project will construct an estimate of the costs of illicit drug use in Tasmania in 2015-2016 and the costs under decriminalisation, based on data from a range of Australian sources and a brief analysis of the Portugese experience. Funded by: Tasmanian Association of Community Legal Centres Inc. ($5,000); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Inter-Generational Transfer Tax
Mr Joseph Roach1 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $909; Estimate the annual revenue raised from an inter-generational transfer tax in Australia. Funded by: Mr Joseph Roach ($909); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
NILS Defaults
NILS Network of Tasmania Inc1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2015
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $6,608; This project will estimate an equation that no Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) Network of Tasmania can use to predict the probability that one of it micro-credit clients will default. Funded by: NILS Network of Tasmania Inc ($6,608); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
The analysis of economic wealth and cost of living of Tasmanian households
Department of Premier and Cabinet1 Jan 2014 - 30 Sep 2015
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $72,500; The project will analyse the economic wellbeing and cost of living for groups of Tasmanian households. Funded by: Department of Premier and Cabinet ($72,500); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Mortgage Choice by Australian Households: A Study in Financial-Market Decision-Making
University of Tasmania1 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2010
People funded by this grant: Wells G, Blacklow P
Project Total: $10,586; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Institutional Research Scheme; University of Tasmania ($10,586).
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Economic Impacts of Worker's Compensation Premiums in Tasmania
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry1 Jan 2008 - 31 Dec 2008
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $7,490; Funded by: Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry ($7,490); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Peer Review of the Social and Economic Impact of Gambling in Tasmania Report by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES)
Department of Finance1 Jan 2008 - 31 Dec 2008
People funded by this grant: Blacklow P
Project Total: $5,000; Funded by: Department of Finance ($5,000); University of Tasmania.