First, list your current professional title. Second, describe your background, experience, and research as it relates to Quality-of-life studies.
Emeritus Professor of Economics.
My early years were spent in my city of birth, Tehran. My parents were avid travellers, in part due to my father’s work. This gave me the chance to also travel a lot and my first overseas trip was when I was two years old. And that trip was to the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
By the time I was 7 years old I had spent nearly 3 years living away from Iran: in the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK. I’d like to think that this early exposure to cultures different to the one I was born in to prepared me well for living away from Iran and predominantly in the UK some years later.
I spent the latter years of my high school years in the UK and completed all higher education (from BA to PhD) there as well. My field of interest has always been economics, although I did think about majoring in international relations for the first 4 months or so of my first degree. In those days I was fascinated by global political issues and the associated challenges.
My attraction to economics had a very straightforward explanation. I realised early on in my education that the tools I would learn as an economist would help me move closer to answering the biggest questions. I was also quite good at arithmetical skills from a young age. Those skills gradually formed into very good mathematical ability, so economics enabled me to take some advantage of that skillset.
Once I decided on an academic career it all seemed to fall into place neatly. I was fortunate in that my mentors were incredibly supportive of my ambitions.
My first academic post was as a visiting assistant professor of economics at Tulane University in the United States. Subsequent to that I moved back to the UK and spent the bulk of my career at Richmond University in London. Richmond delivered a US style curriculum, so seemed a good fit after Tulane. Other institutions I spent time with include Skidmore College (in Saratoga Springs, upstate New York), and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago.
My interest in Quality of Life Studies is closely linked with my academic field. The central problems economists try to find answers for are all linked to resource scarcity and how this challenge can be navigated into offering us better life solutions and outcomes. When economists talk about utility maximization, they are really presenting an argument for happiness and fulfilment maximization. Of course, there are nuances associated with such ideas but the essence of the relationships does not change.
In a recent co-authored paper my colleagues and I explored the links between economic growth, political climate and under-nourishment amongst the world’s poorest countries over a 21 year period. We found some fascinating results and in doing so I would maintain we offered hitherto unknown insights on issues affecting people’s lives – hence in our discussions we noticed that there is a strong quality of life issue at stake.
What initially attracted you to the field of quality-of-life studies?
As mentioned earlier, I really don’t see much of a separation between my work as an economist and maintaining an interest in quality of life studies. To me, the two are inseparable. Because of this, I would say that my interest started in my late teenage years which is about the time when my interest in economics was surfacing.
What are some areas of quality-of-life studies you feel are lacking attention? Any advice for future QoL researchers?
I have a strong likeness for policy debates. So, I would always encourage research that explores different policy options. This is my overall approach. So, for me, for the quality-of-life research needs to be speaking to actual and real decision making. So, do research that impacts policy in a positive way.
One of my current activities is to act as the Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Happiness and Development. I have been in this role for 3 years now.
The focus of this journal is very close to the general theme of quality-of-life studies. My role as editor gives me the opportunity to see a wide range of contributions to the journal. Many of the papers that cross my desk struggle to define the problem they want to investigate clearly enough. Some of those that manage to get this aspect right can’t then execute the empirical side of their research to fit in with their own research brief.
Every so often a real gem of a paper appears. These are the ones in which the problem is well articulated and the solutions on offer are clear and unambiguous. Another key attribute of some of the better papers I see is that the authors are willing to explore their issues using a combination of both explicit and implicit indicators. As well as this, the best papers tackle their research using multi-disciplinary tools. And of course, almost all the best papers offer suggestions for change, or reflection, of existing policy.
How long have you been a member of ISQOLS? Why did you choose to be a member of ISQOLS? How has your involvement in ISQOLS impacted your career/research/advancement in your knowledge of QoL studies?
I am into my first year of membership of ISQOLS. The choice to become a member follows on from my interest in economic analysis and its role in policy making.
I retired from my full-time academic position on 1st September 2022. I am currently finishing off some research started before I retired. As such my involvement with ISQOLS has not directly affected my research or career.
Feel free to include any other important comments or things you'd like to share with the ISQOLS community.
I have very recently joined the Board. I am excited by this and am looking forward to helping ISQOLS go further and faster.
