International fellows

Monique McKenzie

I am a post-doctoral research associate in the School of Social and Policial Sciences at the University of Sydney working across projects that aim to track the causes and consequences of the asset economy in Australia, the implications for new forms of inequality and particularly how family wealth is shaping the life trajectories of younger generations. I applied to collaborate with Kristian Fuzi, Research Fellow and Research Theme Lead (Risk and Financial Wellbeing in Later Life) at CHASM, on a new project that looks at the intersection of the gig-economy and asset-based social policy.

We are interested in the contradiction between social policies premised on the steady stream of income to finance investment in property ownership, private pensions and higher education, with gig work as an emerging structure of employment that is defined by income volatility. My time as a visiting researcher was essential to the development of this project as it gave Kris and I much needed time to sit and conceptualise the key factors that might define gig workers lives within the asset-based welfare state and consider what it might look to extend this project to a larger cross-country comparative project. In doing so we were able to develop a comprehensive interview schedule to use in our upcoming interviews. We were also able to gain invaluable advice from other researchers in the centre who have developed similar projects at a cross-country scale. Alongside this specific project work, I also benefitted greatly from discussions with other researchers at the centre, especially during my seminar where I presented some of my work from Australia and was involved in illuminating discussions about the similarities and differences between Australia and the United Kingdom in regard to asset based social policy.

My time as a visiting researcher has been pivotal to the development of my career, particularly in furthering my research program through the development of this project. Furthermore, my career will continue to be enriched through the generative collaborations I was able to develop through my time visiting CHASM at the University of Birmingham.

Chae-jeong Lee

This summer at the University of Birmingham has been truly unforgettable. From Muirhead Tower, I often gazed out over the green landscapes, breathing in the refreshing air and constantly reminded of the beauty of the British summer. At the same time, I felt deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue my research interests and to engage with colleagues at CHASM.

Previously, I served as a public officer at the National Assembly Budget Office of Korea, and I now work as a research fellow at the National Assembly Futures Institute, a parliamentary think tank in Seoul. Over the years, I have observed the rapid expansion of social policy in Korea, largely driven by universal welfare measures that offer flat-rate benefits and services. This expansion has occurred alongside two major shifts: accelerated population ageing and the growing influence of financial capitalism.

In preparing policy reports to support the Korean National Assembly’s legislative process, I often questioned whether universal welfare policies could remain effective amid widening asset inequality. During my time in Birmingham, I explored this question by analyzing EU data, focusing on whether the so-called “Paradox of Redistribution” persists when asset inequalities are considered. With the invaluable guidance of Prof. Ellie Suh and Prof. Louise Overton, I was able to approach these issues from fresh perspectives, and to draw out policy implications regarding what factors must be considered for universalistic welfare policies to remain effective in contexts of deepening asset inequality. I look forward to sharing the results of this research in the near future.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all members of CHASM for making this summer such a rewarding and memorable experience. I am also thankful to Ms. Sarah Martin, Prof. Kelly Hall, and to the other colleagues who provided kind support throughout my stay.

Professor Jerry Buckland

Professor Jerry Buckland is the CHASM International Visiting Fellow for 2023. Jerry is Professor of Economics in the Redekop School of Business at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), and a Faculty Member in International Development Studies at the University of Winnipeg. His research and teaching examine the financial dimensions of human wellbeing. Jerry is running the final stages of a 6-year research project, the Canadian Financial Diaries, which is based at CMU’s Centre for Resilience.

CHASM International Visiting Fellowship research

Do skills in math/s better enable people to manage their money?

In September and October 2023, I had the pleasure of spending six weeks at the University of Birmingham based at the Centre for Household Assets and Savings Management, CHASM. I was here as a part of the International Research Visiting Fellowship Scheme. It was a very rich time of meeting new colleagues, learning about their work, and learning about the activities of the Centre. CHASM is an impressive organization, doing very important work, and CHASM faculty and staff were incredibly friendly and made me feel at home. On top of engaging with people at the Centre I was able to participate in field research in Birmingham.

Dr Mat Despard

Mat is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at UNC Greensboro, a Faculty Director and Visiting Scholar with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC Chapel Hill, and member of the Academic Research Council of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Mat conducts research on micro economics, financial wellbeing, economic mobility, financial inclusion, student debt, access to health care, employment, and social policy with a focus on low- and moderate-income households.

Professor Deirdre O’Loughlin

Deirdre O'Loughlin is a Professor of Marketing at the Kemmy Business School in the University of Limerick. Her research interests lie in a broad range of areas including branding, services and relationship marketing and her PhD research (completed in 2003) focused on the role of branding and relationships within retail financial services. More recently, her research interests have focused on a range of critical marketing and consumption issues within online and offline settings, including the impact of austerity on individuals and households, consumer credit and debt, marketing and consumer responsibility considerations, as well as social and public policy outcomes. She has published in a broad range of highly ranked international peer reviewed journals including Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Research, European Journal of Marketing, Sociology, Social Policy and Administration, The Services Industries Journal, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Strategic Marketing, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Irish Marketing Review, and the Australasia Journal of Marketing.

Dr Deirdre O’Loughlin is collaborating with CHASM’s Dr Caroline Moraes to explore the enduring effects and recurrent nature of crises such as austerity and COVID-19, which have highlighted the critical importance of investigating financial insecurity and the need to develop innovative strategies and policies to help support financial equality and welfare, and alleviate poverty. The study aims to investigate, identify and compare household and stakeholder perspectives on the nature and extent of current financial insecurity in post-austerity UK and Ireland, as both countries begin to emerge from the global pandemic. It will identify appropriate resilience strategies and responses as well as innovative policy interventions to address enduring financial insecurity leading to poverty through a two stage approach with interviews with representative organisations in both countries and in-depth interviews with a selection of participant households affected by financial insecurity.

Dr Sarah Kuypers

Dr Sarah Kuypers was hosted by Dr Lee Gregory, collaborating with CHASM to research pro-poor savings and asset-building policies as a potential future policy path in Europe, complementing existing social security provisions.

CHASM Seminar: Poverty in the EU using augmented measures of financial resources

Dr Pushpa Wood

Dr Pushpa Wood was hosted by Professor Andy Lymer to research how the unique circumstances of individual students’ impact on their financial capability in the context of studying at university in New Zealand, Birmingham (UK) and Pretoria in South Africa.

CHASM Seminar: Understanding spending amongst marginalised female communities: the case of Māori women – lessons for the UK

Dr Micheál Collins

Dr Micheál Collins main research interests and publications are in the areas of income distribution, taxation, redistribution, economic evaluation and public policy. Micheál was hosted by Professor Andy Lymer.

CHASM Seminar: Who benefits from 0% and exempt rates of VAT?

Professor Federico Ferretti

Professor Federico Ferretti worked with Professor Karen Rowlingson to analyse the extent to which Fintech contributes to financial inclusion and the protection afforded to consumers across Europe.

Dr Oana Druta

Dr Oana Druta is a Cultural Geographer and Urban Planner, primarily conducting cross-national research in the field of housing. Oana was hosted by Dr Louise Overton in 2019 and worked on a project called Home investments and aging-in-place: comparing policy contexts and household practices in the UK and the Netherlands.

CHASM Seminar: Shifting responsibilities: Homeownership and life-course transitions in a comparative perspective -with Julia Cook

Dr Irni Rahmayani Johan

Dr Irni Rahmayani joined host Professor Karen Rowlingson in 2019 to research financial capability of populations in Southeast Asia.

CHASM Seminar: Financial Capability in Southeast Asia

The Effect of Personal Finance Education on The Financial Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour of University Students in Indonesia, Irni Johan, Karen Rowlingson, Lindsey Appleyard.

Dr Julia Cook

Dr Julia Cook joined CHASM host Dr Louise Overton in 2019. Julia’s research interests include the sociology of youth, time and housing.

Julia and Louise will be worked on the project: The bidirectional impact of intergenerational transfers for entry into the property market: Understanding wellbeing implications for donors and recipients.

CHASM Seminar: Shifting responsibilities: Homeownership and life-course transitions in a comparative perspective -with Oana Druta

Housing and Intergenerational Relations: Family Support and the Mixed Economy of Housing in the UK, Karen Rowlingson, Louise Overton, Julia Cook.

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003092117-3/housing-intergenerational-relations-karen-rowlingson-louise-overton-julia-cook

Intergenerational Assistance with Home Ownership: Understanding the Relational Development of Financialized Subjectivities, Julia Cook & Louise Overton

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14036096.2023.2293188

Professor Bernadene de Clercq

Bernadene’s field of research is financial wellness (or financial security), encompassed in the financial capability approach. In 2018 Bernadene was hosted by Professor Andy Lymer.

CHASM Seminar: Retirement reform in South Africa: Our journey to pension tax simplification

De Clercq B, Lymer A,.& C. Axelson (2019), ’Tax simplification of retirement benefits – an analysis of the tax simplification initiatives for pension provision in the UK and South Africa’, in ‘Tax simplification: An African perspective’, Pretoria University Law Press, South Africa (book edited by C. Evans)

Dr Stefan Angel

Dr Stefan Angel, joined Dr James Gregory and Professor Andy Lymer in 2018 to work on new approaches to CHASM’s on-going research on housing tenure and wellbeing leading to the below output.

CHASM Seminar: What did you really earn last year? Explaining measurement error in survey income data

Angel, S. & Gregory, J. (2021) Does housing tenure matter? Owner-occupation and wellbeing in Britain and Austria, Housing Studies.

Associate Professor David Rothwell

CHASM international research fellow, Dr David Rothwell, researches cross-national variation in savings and asset holding and was hosted by Professor Karen Rowlingson in July 2018.

CHASM Seminar: Low wealth in rich countries: Exploring cross-national variation at the lower tail of the wealth distribution