Andrew Wainwright

My PhD looks at modelling social tipping points in the transition to a sustainable society.  I'm interested in how to accelerate the process.  My first two years look at improving existing models of social tipping points.  I show that by adding heterogeneity to standard models of discrete choice, we can get results which closely match observed behaviour. Also, that there exist budget-neutral policy interventions which can accelerate the transition.

In my final year I will use Computable General Equilibrium models to evaluate two very different policies.  One is a proposal to kick-start the circular economy: the government would subsidise the processing of all low-value "waste," encouraging the creation of innovative techniques to extract more value from waste, until all waste streams have a profitable recovery channel.

The second policy is a proposed World Bank scheme which would direct contributions from wealthy countries at green infrastructure projects in the developing world. By providing a mechanism for existing holders of debt to offer improved terms to developing countries while simultaneously improving their own balance sheets we show that all parties (developing countries, contributor countries, banks and multinationals) will want to maximise their contributions.

Finally, by giving the World Bank control of the terms of the contracts we arrive at Climate-Just Debt Swaps: a way to build green infrastructure with no net loss to biodiversity and where it is most needed (the developing world), reduce the reliance of developing countries on hard currencies and redirect the activities of multinationals towards the work the world most needs.