Terry Barker
Encyclopedia
Terry Barker is a British economist and Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR) part of the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge
. He is also a member of the Tyndall Centre
, the Chairman of Cambridge Econometrics (a company he co-founded in 1985), and chairman of the Cambridge Trust for New Thinking in Economics, which is a charitable organisation with a mission to promote new approaches to solving economic problems.
, the Nobel Laureate in economics. The main research undertaken during this period was the Cambridge Growth Project, a project to develop computer software to construct a computational model of the British Economy. The project, initially directed by Richard Stone, whom Barker succeeded as director in 1983, coordinated a research team including economists such as Mervyn King
, Angus Stewart Deaton and Jeremy Bray
. In 1985 Barker co-founded Cambridge Econometrics.
Barker has overseen a continuation of the research into the application of computing to econometric modelling, in particular the theory and application of large-scale economy-energy-environment (E3) models. Using such E3 models, he has been able to apply empirical analysis to international trade theory and to policies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases. In the course of this research, he has also held various positions under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
, including Coordinating Lead Author (CLA), and he was one of the contributors named by the IPCC when it won (jointly with Al Gore) the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007. In 2009 he presented a speech to COP 15 – the UNFCCC Conference of Parties event in Copenhagen.
problem requires urgent action aimed at decarbonising the world economy. He has been supportive of Barack Obama
's Green New Deal
, stating that "If all G-20 countries adopted a 'green New Deal' similar to the one proposed by President Obama, the world economy would be greatly strengthened, especially the sectors producing low-carbon technologies ... Where many current calculations get it wrong is in the assumption that more stringent [climate mitigation] measures will necessarily raise the overall cost, especially when there is substantial unemployment and underuse of capacity as there is today." He has expressed the view that tougher restrictions for greenhouse gas
emissions may, if done properly, actually have a positive macroeconomic effect: "There is some evidence that harder greenhouse-gas targets and regulation may actually increase benefits through improved innovation and distribution of low-carbon technologies, and increased revenues from taxes or permits. These revenues can be spent to further support new technology and to lower other indirect taxes, ensuring the fiscal neutrality of these measures."
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He is also a member of the Tyndall Centre
Tyndall Centre
The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research is an organisation based in the United Kingdom that brings together scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists to 'research, assess and communicate from a distinct trans-disciplinary perspective, the options to mitigate, and the...
, the Chairman of Cambridge Econometrics (a company he co-founded in 1985), and chairman of the Cambridge Trust for New Thinking in Economics, which is a charitable organisation with a mission to promote new approaches to solving economic problems.
Career
After obtaining his degree in Edinburgh University, Barker worked as a research officer at the Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge, with Professor Sir Richard StoneRichard Stone
Sir John Richard Nicholas Stone was an eminent British economist who in 1984 received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for developing an accounting model that could be used to track economic activities on a national and, later, an international scale...
, the Nobel Laureate in economics. The main research undertaken during this period was the Cambridge Growth Project, a project to develop computer software to construct a computational model of the British Economy. The project, initially directed by Richard Stone, whom Barker succeeded as director in 1983, coordinated a research team including economists such as Mervyn King
Mervyn King (economist)
An ex-officio member of the Bank's interest-rate setting Monetary Policy Committee since its inception in 1997, Sir Mervyn is the only person to have taken part in every one of its monthly meetings to date. His voting style is often seen as "hawkish", a perspective that emphasises the dangers of...
, Angus Stewart Deaton and Jeremy Bray
Jeremy Bray
Jeremy William Bray was a British Labour politician and a Member of Parliament for 31 years.Bray was educated at Kingswood School, Bath and Jesus College, Cambridge and was a Choate Fellow at Harvard University...
. In 1985 Barker co-founded Cambridge Econometrics.
Barker has overseen a continuation of the research into the application of computing to econometric modelling, in particular the theory and application of large-scale economy-energy-environment (E3) models. Using such E3 models, he has been able to apply empirical analysis to international trade theory and to policies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases. In the course of this research, he has also held various positions under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
, including Coordinating Lead Author (CLA), and he was one of the contributors named by the IPCC when it won (jointly with Al Gore) the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007. In 2009 he presented a speech to COP 15 – the UNFCCC Conference of Parties event in Copenhagen.
Views
Barker has stated that the climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
problem requires urgent action aimed at decarbonising the world economy. He has been supportive of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's Green New Deal
Green New Deal
A Green New Deal is a report released on July 21, 2008 by the Green New Deal Group and published by the New Economics Foundation, which outlines a series of policy proposals to tackle global warming, the current financial crisis, and peak oil. The report calls for the re-regulation of finance and...
, stating that "If all G-20 countries adopted a 'green New Deal' similar to the one proposed by President Obama, the world economy would be greatly strengthened, especially the sectors producing low-carbon technologies ... Where many current calculations get it wrong is in the assumption that more stringent [climate mitigation] measures will necessarily raise the overall cost, especially when there is substantial unemployment and underuse of capacity as there is today." He has expressed the view that tougher restrictions for greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions may, if done properly, actually have a positive macroeconomic effect: "There is some evidence that harder greenhouse-gas targets and regulation may actually increase benefits through improved innovation and distribution of low-carbon technologies, and increased revenues from taxes or permits. These revenues can be spent to further support new technology and to lower other indirect taxes, ensuring the fiscal neutrality of these measures."
Selected recent articles
- Barker, T. and Scrieciu S. (2009) "Unilateral climate change mitigation, carbon leakage and competitiveness: an application to the European Union", International Journal of Global Warming, 1(4): 405-417
- Barker, T., Ekins, P., Junankar, S., Pollitt, H. and Summerton, P. (2009) "The competitiveness effects of European environmental fiscal reforms", European Review of Energy Markets 3(1):
- Barker, T., Dagoumas, A. and Rubin, J. (2009) "The macroeconomic rebound effect and the world economy", Energy Efficiency 2(4): 411-427
- Barker, T. (2009) "Endogenous money in 21 Century Keynesian economics", in Arestis, P and Sawyer, M. (eds) 21 Century Keynesian Economics, Palgrave Macmillan
- Barker, T., Junankar, S., Pollitt, H. and Summerton, P. (2009) "The effects of Environmental Tax Reform on international competitiveness in the European Union: modelling with E3ME", in Andersen, M. S. and Ekins, P. (eds) Carbon-Energy Taxation: Lessons from Europe, Oxford University Press
- Barker, T., Junankar, S., Pollitt, H. and Summerton, P. (2009) "Carbon leakage from unilateral environmental tax reforms in Europe, 1995–2005", in Andersen, M. S. and Ekins, P. (eds) Carbon-Energy Taxation: Lessons from Europe, Oxford University Press
- Barker, T. (2009) "Will the reconstruction of the global economy be positive for mitigating climate change?" in Giddens, A., Latham, S. and Liddle, R. (eds) Building a low carbon future: the politics of climate change
- Barker, T., Junankar, S., Pollitt, H. and Summerton, P. (2009) "The macroeconomic effects of unilateral environmental tax reforms in Europe, 1995–2012", in Innovation, Technology and Employment: Impacts of Environmental Fiscal Reforms and Other Market-Based Instruments, edited volume "Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation VOL VI", Oxford University Press
Selected Books
- Barker, T. and Köhler, J. (1998) International Competitiveness and Environmental Policies, London: Edward Elgar
- Barker, T. (1996) Space-Time Economics, Cambridge: Cambridge Econometrics.
- Barker, T., Ekins, P. and Johnstone, N. (1995) Global Warming and Energy Demand, London: Routledge.
- Barker, T. (1991) Green Futures for Economic Growth, Cambridge: Cambridge Econometrics
- Barker, T. and Pesaran, M. H. (1990) Disaggregation in Economic Modelling, London: Routledge.
- Barker, T. and Peterson, W. (1987) The Cambridge Multisectoral Dynamic Model of the British Economy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Barker, T. (1970) The Determinants of Britain's Visible Imports, 1949 – 1966, London: Chapman and Hall.