Professor Brian Bell
Honorary Professor of Economics
Research interests
- Economics
Contact details
Biography
Brian Bell was formerly Professor of Economics and Head of Department, Economics at King's Business School.
Brian joined King's College London in January 2017. Previous to his appointment at King’s, he was Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Oxford (2012-2016) and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics (2009-2012) - where he remains a Research Associate. He has spent a significant part of his career outside of academia. He worked as an economist and proprietary trader for a number of hedge funds and investment banks in London and also spent time at the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England.
Brian's main research interests fall in two areas. First, he works on issues related to wages and inequality. This includes work on the pay of CEOs, the impact of immigration on wages and employment and intergenerational mobility. Second, he does work on the economics of crime looking at, inter alia, evidence on the links between immigration and crime and the impact of unemployment when leaving school on subsequent criminal behaviour.
Brian served as Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee and in 2026 was appointed as the UK's Chief Economic Adviser, Director General Economics and Fiscal and Head of the Government Economic Service.
News
Professor Brian Bell appointed as Chief Economic Advisor to the UK Treasury
King’s Business School academic Professor Brian Bell has been appointed as the new Chief Economic Advisor to the Treasury and Head of the Government Economic...
Professor Brian Bell appointed interim chair of UK's Migration Advisory Committee
Professor Bell will play a key role in advising the government on its new ‘points-based’ migration regime.
Events
Connections: 'Is there a war between the generations? And if so who is winning?' with David Willetts
The coronavirus seems yet another example of the conflicting interests of different generations. But is this just promoting generational warfare?
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Why Does Education Reduce Crime?
A paper by Brian Bell and co-authors, recently published in the Journal of Political Economy investigates the relationship between education and crime rates
News
Professor Brian Bell appointed as Chief Economic Advisor to the UK Treasury
King’s Business School academic Professor Brian Bell has been appointed as the new Chief Economic Advisor to the Treasury and Head of the Government Economic...
Professor Brian Bell appointed interim chair of UK's Migration Advisory Committee
Professor Bell will play a key role in advising the government on its new ‘points-based’ migration regime.
Events
Connections: 'Is there a war between the generations? And if so who is winning?' with David Willetts
The coronavirus seems yet another example of the conflicting interests of different generations. But is this just promoting generational warfare?
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Why Does Education Reduce Crime?
A paper by Brian Bell and co-authors, recently published in the Journal of Political Economy investigates the relationship between education and crime rates