Professor Ashwin Kumar

Development of the Institute of Public Policy Research Tax-Benefit Model

Economic evaluation of a basic income for Scotland

Evaluation of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

Good Employment Learning Lab

Achieving the Scottish Government’s child poverty targets

Comprehensive analysis of work incentives in the tax and benefit system

Modelling of the impact of changes to the Local Housing Allowance

Why study…

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to provide the intellectual foundations for students aspiring to a career in leadership of public services, whether in the public, voluntary or private sector.

Career routes to leadership in these sectors require a combination of skills: understanding the wider public service context, economics of public services, governance, accountability and performance management, and leadership, management and finance. Public service leaders must also have specialist knowledge of the services and policy areas in which they operate.

Students will be taught by academics in the Policy Evaluation Research Unit (PERU), an internationally recognised policy-research unit with expertise in models of public service delivery and policy making.

PERU members have a track record of research in the UK and Europe and links with institutions in the US and South East Asia. They are actively involved in research programmes commissioned by public service organisations, including central government departments, and many members of the unit have worked in public services at a senior or non-executive board level.

These international contacts and this practical and research experience will directly influence what students are taught, with the content of the course drawing on global public administration and policy case studies.

This means students will be learning at the cutting edge of the latest developments in public services. Students will also take advantage of a rich programme of guest lectures and opportunities for them to undertake final projects in real world settings.

The course is aimed at recent graduates and managers in public services looking to accelerate their careers. It will offer a blended delivery that is designed to ensure that people can access the course on a part-time basis, as well as full-time, to facilitate those who are combining study with working in public services

Units taught

Master of Public Administration

• Leadership, Governance and Finance
• Economics of Public Policy
• Poverty and Inequality

Sociology

• Analysing Social Problems

Ashwin works on analysis and modelling of incomes, poverty, and the labour market.

He maintains and develops the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) Tax-Benefit Model, used by the IPPR, Resolution Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, New Economics Foundation and the Legatum Institute to analyse the effects of tax and benefit policy on incomes, poverty and government costs.

Recent projects include an economic evaluation of a Citizens Basic Income for Scotland, and the evaluation of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.