Dr Jolian McHardy

Department of Economics

Senior Lecturer in Economics

Jolian McHardy profile
Profile picture of Jolian McHardy profile
j.mchardy@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 3460

Full contact details

Dr Jolian McHardy
Department of Economics
Room 517
9 Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 4DT
Profile

Jolian graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BA Economics degree in 1992 and gained his MSc in Economics at the University of Warwick in 1993. He studied for his PhD at the University of Sheffield and was appointed to a lectureship at the University of Hull in 1997.

In 2004 Jolian was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Sheffield and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2009. Jolian has been an associate scholar of the Rimini Centre of Economic Analysis (University of Bologna, Italy) since 2007.

Research interests

Jolian's research interests lie primarily in the area of theoretical economics. He is currently working on oligopoly theory especially in relation to innovation, networks, regulation, and welfare.

His research also includes applications of theory to issues in transport economics, labour economics and conservation.

He is interested in supervising doctoral work in theoretical economics, oligopoly theory, innovation, networks, regulation, and welfare. 

Publications

Journal articles

Teaching activities

I currently teach microeconomics and mathematical economics at level 2. Both modules are theoretical in nature, have strong technical components and emphasise understanding and the ability to apply knowledge to solving problems and demonstrating a critical perspective. The pursuit of understanding involves developing strong critical analysis and research skills.

The approach to study now marks a significant departure from pre-University study (which tends to emphasise knowledge over understanding and is typically approached by uncritical teacher-led learning).

This is supported and incentivised in both modules by interactive lectures and workshops, active online discussion forums, formative (non-assessed) online activities and study groups.

The interactive discussion and development of concepts, models and ideas in lectures and workshops means there is no role for pre-prepared lecture notes. With “understanding” at the heart of both modules, answers are not provided in either case.

Though typically unpopular at first, students quickly begin to appreciate that if they cannot be sure whether their answer is correct then they do not yet understand the material and should undertake further study, seek support from their study group and/or get feedback and guidance from academic staff on the module via the discussion forums, in C&F times or the interactive surgeries lectures and workshops.

Being able to show you have the right answer or sense check your work is a highly valuable skill and these modules provide a great deal of support and guidance towards this end. Both modules are additionally supported by short videos.

The “microshots” short video series in microeconomics is particularly extensive - summarising core material and techniques and indicating areas for further study/research enquiry.

Team work plays an important role in both modules – in each case students are allocated to a study group within which they sit in lectures and undertake non-assessed group work.

  • ECN201 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ECN212/ECN307 Further Mathematical Methods for Economics