Dr Ivan Rajic

Ivan is mainly interested in economic development, regional development, industrial and innovation policy, market structure and power, and political economy. He has a PhD from the University of Cambridge and research experience from the Universities of Sheffield and Birmingham. He joined ARU in April 2022 and will be teaching research methods, economics and global business.

Email

Twitter @ivanrajicuk

Background

Ivan studied economics at the University of Belgrade, where he was lucky enough to have a very pluralist program, extensively covering both mainstream and heterodox approaches. He developed a strong interest in economic development and political economy, and later pursued an MPhil and a PhD in Development Studies, both at the University of Cambridge. He worked at UCL, City University London, University of Sheffield, and University of Birmingham, before joining Anglia Ruskin University in April 2022.

Ivan’s research focuses on regional development, regional industrial and innovation policies, and how the power of large corporations affects the prospects of poorer regions catching up.

Ivan has a strong interest in impact, and has co-authored a number of reports, responses to parliamentary inquiries, blogs, and media articles. Going forward, he is looking to do consultancy work, as well as to produce impact-oriented outputs based on his academic research.

Research interests

• Regional development disparities
• Regional industrial and innovation policies
• Interventionist economic policies
• Market structure and market power
• Political economy

Teaching

Since starting at ARU, Ivan has taught research methods to masters students and supervised their dissertations. From September 2022, he will be teaching research methods, economics and the global business environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Development Studies, University of Cambridge, 2017. Topic: Oligopoly, regional development and the political economy of separatism, with a case study of the United Kingdom and Scotland.
• MPhil in Development Studies, University of Cambridge, 2010.
• Bachelor in Economics, University of Belgrade, 2009

Selected recent publications

Rajić, I., (revise & resubmit). “Oligopolistic power and the ‘successful failure’ of UK regional policies”. Regional Studies

Rajić, I., (2022). The regulation dilemma: is responsible business possible without state intervention?. In: Thomson, I., and Bates, D. Five myths business needs to overcome to save itself and the planet. Bristol: Bristol University Press

Rajić, I., 2017. The role of big firms and industrial policy in economic development. In: Malović, M. and K. Roy (eds.). The State and the Market in Economic Development: Im Pursuit of the Millenium Development Goals. Brisbane: The IIDS Australia

Eliassen, R., Hauge J. L., and Rajić I., 2015. Hva er galt med økonomiundervisningen?. Samfunnsøkonomen, no. 6, pp. 39-51 (Paper title in English: “What is wrong with economics education?”)

Recent presentations and conferences

“The limitations of localism in the revival of the UK’s old industrial regions”, 2021, Council for European Studies Conference (virtual)

“The future of advanced manufacturing in the Sheffield City Region: An analysis of economic strategy and policy debates”, 2019, Regional Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Media experience

I have co-authored a number of articles and blogs for UK media on Brexit, industrial policy, and UK manufacturing. I also gave a talk on Radio Belgrade 2 about development and industrial policy.