About us
Welcome from the Head of School
Shaping the best tomorrow with economics that matters today!
Economics is not about numbers - it is about ideas that build fairer futures, knowledge that drives progress, and solutions that create a more sustainable, inclusive world.
At the UNSW School of Economics, we are a community of scholars, educators, and students applying economic thinking to society’s most pressing challenges - from climate risk, democratic stability, and inequality to technological disruption and the future of work.
Anchored by UNSW’s vision of Advancing Economic and Social Prosperity for All and the Business School’s commitment to Careers That Matter, our mission is to generate knowledge and graduate students who make a meaningful difference.
We pursue this through rigorous research, transformative education, and strong collaborations across Australia and globally.
Our teaching is innovative and grounded in real-world application - from award-winning immersive platforms like Playconomics to rigorous training in data analytics and econometrics. We aim not just to teach economics but to empower people to use it to change lives and, in doing so, build fulfilling and impactful careers.
We train graduates that excel across government, business, academia, and international organisations, united by the ability to think critically, engage globally, and act with purpose. We are proud of the legacy and the distinct mark they leave in all spheres of society.
The UNSW School of Economics is more than a place of study. It is a community committed to push the boundaries of economics to create a fairer, more sustainable, and more prosperous future. Together with our partners, students, and alumni, we use economics to shape a better world - for everybody in it.
Professor Isabella Dobrescu
Head, School of Economics
Our people
We are an elite academic community boasting world leaders in their areas of research, and some of Australia’s highest-awarded Economics educators. Our students are amongst the brightest nationally and internationally, drawn by a shared ambition to understand and shape the world around them. Together we represent a highly motivated and socially focussed team dedicated to advancing of a better, safer and fairer world.
Our research
We have a strong international reputation as one of Australia’s preeminent research schools in Economics. Our academics are highly sought after as senior advisory roles to government and industry. Our status as a school in one of Australia’s prestigious Group Of Eight (Go8) research-intensive universities ensures that we attract considerable funding from the Australian Research Council and other bodies.
Our impact
At UNSW School of Economics our single collective focus is to engineer positive change for the betterment of all people, making real-world impact through solution design and individual empowerment. Our research shapes academic debate at the highest level and advances understanding of the forces that drive behaviour, markets and policy. Beyond academia, we work closely with governments, institutions, schools and communities to translate economic insight into practical change where it matters most.