Robert Metcalfe

Robert Metcalfe is a prominent academic serving as a Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he holds the SIPA Professorship of Energy Policy. His expertise lies primarily in applied microeconomics, with a focus on environmental and energy economics, behavioral economics, and public economics.13

Academic Background and Career

• Education: Metcalfe completed his Ph.D. at Imperial College London, an M.Sc. at the London School of Economics, and a B.A. at the University of Wales, Swansea.
• Previous Positions: He has held various academic roles, including:
  • Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the University of Chicago
  • Associate Professor at the University of Southern California
  • Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.12

Research Contributions

Metcalfe is actively involved in research and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in reputable journals such as the American Economic Review and Management Science. His work often explores topics like energy conservation, tax compliance, and the impacts of behavioral nudges on economic decisions.12

Professional Affiliations

In addition to his teaching role, he serves as:

• Co-Editor for the Journal of Public Economics
• Associate Editor for the Journal of Political Economy: Microeconomics and Management Science
• Chief Economist at the Centre for Net Zero, part of Octopus Energy Group
• Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).12

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Metcalfe is also a co-founder of two companies:

• The Behavioralist, which focuses on applying academic research to improve business practices.
• Signol, which leverages behavioral insights for organizational improvement.2

With a strong foundation in both academia and practical applications, Robert Metcalfe continues to influence the fields of economics and energy policy through his research and teaching.