Eleanor Dickens

Godfrey Tyler Scholarship in Economics

Joining us from: United States

DPhil Economics (2022)

I am a DPhil student in Economics with research interests in labour economics and applied econometrics. My research focuses on drivers of labour-market inequality, including the “child penalty” — the persistent drop in women’s earnings and career progression after becoming a parent — and policies such as the minimum wage that aim to improve pay at the bottom of the distribution. I study how institutional features and policy design shape parents’ labour supply decisions and public preferences over trade-offs. Using a mix of economic modelling, survey-based choice experiments, and empirical analysis, I aim to generate evidence that can help policymakers design labour-market interventions that support families while balancing broader economic costs. 

I am very grateful to receive the Godfrey Tyler Scholarship, as it provides essential financial support that allows me to focus fully on my research. The scholarship gives me the flexibility to pursue ambitious research questions and invest time in developing the skills and data needed for my DPhil. 

I have greatly enjoyed being part of the St Cross College community. The College is welcoming, intellectually vibrant, and brings together postgraduate students from a wide range of disciplines, which has made my time here both stimulating and rewarding. 

Outside my studies, I love spending time outdoors and often go hiking in the countryside. I am also an avid reader and play the viola in one of the orchestras on campus, which has been a wonderful way to unwind and stay connected to the wider university community.