Brian Bell, Professor of Economics at King’s Business School has been appointed interim chair of the UK’s Migration Advisory Committee. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)  is an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office that advises the government on migration issues.

As interim chair of the MAC, Professor Bell will play a key role in advising the government on its new ‘points-based’ migration regime, to be introduced after free movement from EEA countries is scheduled to end in January 2021.

In particular, the MAC has been asked to advise on which occupations should be included on the Shortage Occupation Lists, qualifying for additional points in a visa application.

Professor Brian Bell said:

“I’m delighted and honoured to have been appointed as interim chair of the Migration Advisory Committee.”

Professor Stephen Bach, Executive Dean of King’s Business School said: “I’m enormously proud that the Government is drawing on Professor Bell’s expertise on such a crucial issue for the future success of UK business and for the wellbeing of the UK economy.”

Professor Bell has been a member of the MAC since 6 February 2018.  He joined King's College London as a Senior Lecturer in Economics in January 2017, and was previously Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Oxford and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics. He has spent much of his career outside of academia, working as an economist and proprietary trader hedge funds and investment banks in London. He has also spent time at the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England. 

In addition to his interest in migration Professor Bell also works on issues related to wages and inequality and on crime.