Professor Carlos Carrillo-Tudela was conferred to the Fellowship of the Academy in spring 2024. A leading figure in the area of macro labour, he is Professor of Economics at the University of Essex and co-editor of Labour Economics, the official journal of the European Association of Labour Economists.
Professor Carlos Carrillo-TudelaFAcSS
Carlos’ research lies at the intersection of macroeconomic and labour markets, and focuses on understanding the effects of human capital, worker mobility and occupational switching on unemployment and earnings inequality over the business cycle and longer term. He also investigates firm dynamics and recruitment policies with the aim of understanding their effects on unemployment and its duration distribution over the business cycle. Carlos uses search and matching theory and quantitative methods as primary tools to study these effects.
In addition, Carlos is a research fellow/affiliate of several international networks including CEPR, IZA, CESIfo and IFS. His work has been published in numerous prestigious economics journals, including Econometrica, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of the European Economic Association, Journal of Economic Theory and International Economic Review.
Carlos continuously engages with policymakers in the UK, particularly at the HM Treasury, Department of Work and Pensions, Bank of England and the Low Pay Commission, and he has presented on numerous occasions at international institutes, central banks and international conferences. As a result, his work has been used as evidence in UK parliamentary enquiries and to inform the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.
Why do the social sciences matter?
The social sciences allow us to understand how and why individuals’ decisions and actions lead to changes in our communities, economies, political systems, the international order and the environment, and how these in turn affect all of us. They matter because they deal with the fundamentals and dynamics of individuals’ lives, their interactions with each other and with institutions and provide answers that improve our way of life.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I study the causes and consequences of unemployment and worker mobility across jobs, and the role that employers play in shaping these causes and consequences. What I enjoy most about my work is finding new ways to investigate these issues and provide policy recommendations that can help improve people’s lives.
What is the most urgent issue social scientists need to tackle today and within the next three years?
The most urgent issue is how rapid technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence, will affect social inequalities, from income and health to political and environmental inequalities, within our own countries and more widely across the world. I find that a key question is what actions we must take today to harness these new technologies to improve our quality of life but also minimise the social costs.
What does being a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences mean to you?
It is a huge honour and an absolute privilege being elected to this prestigious Academy. I am looking forward to contributing to the Academy’s activities and to further promoting the social sciences.