Hello! I am Daniel Jin, a graduate of Cardiff University who recently joined City-REDI as a Research Fellow.
My research focuses on advancing regional development and local economic growth by improving relevant ingredients such as transportation, housing conditions, corporate productivity, and innovation. To enhance strong and balanced regional development is a journey I am passionate about, and I hope to contribute to City-REDI, an influential regional research centre, with my expertise and ideas.
Early-Career Researcher in Regional Economics
Before joining City-REDI, I undertook the PhD in Economics at Cardiff University, funded by Cardiff Business School Scholarship. During my PhD studies, I analysed impacts of Brexit on immigration and economic growth in Wales, a significant UK country that shares close economic and cultural connection with the mainland Europe. Through several advanced econometric models and the-state-of-the-art methods, I created a new regionalised framework to better understand how Brexit has and will make a difference in the UK and EU. This experience has broadened my understanding of diverse regional and local response to major policy shocks, such as Brexit, and how regional studies can help to measure impacts of public policies amid such an era of uncertainty.
At Cardiff University, I also participated in several research projects led by my supervisor, Professor Max Munday, from the annual review of the Welsh economy to impact analysis on the proposed North Wales Tidal Lagoon. For these projects, I completed rounds of data collection and analysis by using Stata and Python and wrote project reports by adopting ArcGIS to visualise research outcomes. These projects are funded by Cardiff University and the Welsh government and received highly positive feedback from the government and the parliament. In addition, I organised my own teams to conduct our own research projects, including studies on the nexus of railway accessibility and housing quality in Manchester-Liverpool twin cities, and several other projects on economic benefits of high-speed railway in left-behind regions, co-authored by colleagues at School of Engineering, Cardiff University.
I have been a member of the Regional Studies Association and Royal Economic Society since 2021 and serve as an anonymous reviewer for Regional Studies, Regional Science, and Spatial Economic Analysis. I have taught several modules of economics, such as macro and microeconomics, labour economics, and regional economics as a teaching assistant at Cardiff University for three years. Before joining Cardiff University, I hold a Master of Science in Economics degree from University of Illinois, USA.
Work at City-REDI
Although appointed as a fixed-term researcher at City-REDI for one year, I am more than excited to join in numerous projects, and it is a wonderful opportunity to concentrate on projects that align with my commitment to regional development and growth.
One of my primary roles at City-REDI is helping with the emerging cluster project in West Midlands, which aims to examine future clusters in this region based on its already-strong foundation of economic growth and industrial advancement. This project highlights several major fields of emerging clusters such as AI, aerospace, and quantum technology, and will bring great potential for the future growth of this region. It will also involve numerous stakeholders, especially business owners in this region, and contribute to more connections between the private and public sectors. My work for this project includes literature review of cluster development, data analysis on cluster potential, and interviews with business owners and policymakers. It is my first time to undertake such diverse and exciting tasks for advanced regional development schemes, and I particularly enjoy the challenge of turning complex data into practical solutions that can be implemented by policymakers and practitioners.
Why City-REDI
City-REDI stands at the intersection of evidence-based research and real-world impact, which is what attracted me to the centre. Its commitment to inclusive growth and collaborative research aligns closely with my own values. I’m especially inspired by how City-REDI bridges academic expertise with practical solutions, driving tangible, positive change.
I am also eager to collaborate with a diverse, multidisciplinary team and participate in other research projects such as high-speed railway analysis in the UK (HS2) and housing improvement. The chance to work across disciplines and contribute to the economic and social development of the West Midlands through place-based innovation is truly motivating. I believe that, together, we can create lasting and meaningful impact in this region and even in broader UK.
This blog was written by Daniel Jin, Research Fellow, City-REDI, University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the author and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.