Don Webber

Don is currently researching: effective understanding of productivity measures links between individual-level and firm-level productivity associations between mental health status and employment transitions Although categorized as an applied economist, he is better described as a researcher of policy-relevant, social science issues. Specifically he is interested in research that puts people and social issues (rather than money) at the core of the concern.

Don has written 92 academic peer-reviewed articles and led or collaborated on £2.2m of externally funded research. His work has been discussed at the United Nation's International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Welsh Government and elsewhere. He is part of a consortium that has recently completed an AHRC-sponsored project investigating the influence of design on the Bristol and Bath economy.

Prospective PhD students who wish to study productivity (very broadly defined), health, education and/or geographically-related issues are encouraged to contact him for further discussion. He is very open to both qualitative and quantitative research.​

Area of expertise Worker- and firm-level productivity Health and employment transitions Economic geography Microeconomics

Publications

Webber, D., Healy, A. and Bristow, G. (2018) Regional growth paths and resilience: A European analysis. Economic Geography. ISSN 0013-0095 [In Press] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/32129 ' Ruziev, K. and Webber, D. (2018) Does connectedness improve SMEs’ access to formal finance? Evidence from post-communist economies. Post-Communist Economies. ISSN 1465-3958 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/35846 ' Hughes, T., Webber, D. and O'Regan, N. (2017) Achieving wider impact in business and management: Analysing the case studies from REF2014. Studies in Higher Education. ISSN 0307-5079 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/33355 ' Ruziev, K. and Webber, D. (2017) SMEs access to formal finance in post-communist economies: Do institutional structure and political connectedness matter? Working Paper. UWE Bristol, UWE Bristol. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/31858 ' Webber, D., Webber, G., Berger, S. and Bradley, P. (2017) Explaining productivity in a poor productivity region. Environment and Planning A, 50 (1). pp. 157-174. ISSN 0308-518X Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/33085 ' Parraman, C., Ellen, H., Parry, G., Webber, D., Dovey, J., Rose, K., McMahon, C., McLaren, G., Taylor, A., Noonan, A., Hoskins, S., Liao, P., Mo, A. and Lewis, V. (2016) Bristol and Bath by Design; To understand the economic and cultural value of design in the Bristol and Bath region. Project Report. UWE. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/30375 ' Pacheco, G., van der Westhuizen, D. W., Ghobadia, A., Webber, D. J. and O'Regan, N. (2016) The changing influence of societal culture on job satisfaction across Europe. British Journal of Management, 27 (3). pp. 606-627. ISSN 1045-3172 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27478 ' Webber, D. J., Pacheco, G. and Page, D. (2015) Temporary versus permanent employment: Does health matter? Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 18 (2). pp. 169-186. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25465 ' Webber, D. J., Page, D., Veliziotis, M. and Johnson, S. (2015) Does poor health affect employment transitions? Project Report. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27340 ' Dawson, C., Veliziotis, M., Pacheco, G. and Webber, D. J. (2015) Is temporary employment a cause or consequence of poor mental health? A panel data analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 134. pp. 50-58. ISSN 0277-9536 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25395 ' Kitagawa, F., Webber, D. J., Plumridge, A. and Robertson, S. (2015) University entrepreneurship education experiences: Enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystems in a UK city-region. Bouncing Forward: Securing growth through Entrepreneurship: Proceedings of the 8th Annual International Conference. ISSN 9780993280108 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/26099 ' Green, E., Ritchie, F., Mytton, J., Webber, D. J., Deave, T., Montgomery, A., Woolfrey, L., ul-Baset, K. and Chowdhury, S. and Wellcome Trust (2015) Enabling data linkage to maximise the value of public health research data: Summary report. Project Report. Wellcome Trust, London. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25388 ' Green, E., Ritchie, F., Mytton, J., Webber, D. J., Deave, T., Montgomery, A., Woolfrey, L., ul-Baset, K. and Chowdhury, S. (2015) Enabling data linkage to maximise the value of public health research data. Project Report. Wellcome Trust, London. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25387 ' Markey, R., Revenswood, K. and Webber, D. J. (2015) Quality of work environment and quitting intention: A dilemma. New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 40 (1). pp. 35-52. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25394 ' O'Leary, E. and Webber, D. J. (2015) The role of structural change in European regional productivity growth. Regional Studies, 49 (9). pp. 1548-1560. ISSN 0034-3404 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22261 ' Mearman, A., Pacheco, G., Webber, D. J., Ivlevs, A. and Rahman, T. (2014) Understanding student attendance in Business Schools: an exploratory study. International Review of Economics Education, 17. pp. 120-136. ISSN 1477-3880 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25396 ' Hedges, M., Pacheco, G. and Webber, D. J. (2014) What determines students’ choices of elective modules? International Review of Economics Education, 17. pp. 39-54. ISSN 1477-3880 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25397 ' Pacheco, G., Page, D. and Webber, D. J. (2014) Mental and physical health: Re-assessing the relationship with employment propensity. Work, Employment & Society, 28 (3). pp. 407-429. ISSN 0950-0170 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22593 ' Patsiotis, A., Hughes, T. and Webber, D. J. (2014) Consumer resistance to internet-based services: Implications for real estate customer service. Keller Centre Research Report, 7 (2). Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22594 ' Whittard, D., Webber, D. J. and Jump, N. F. (2014) An econometric study of the West of England LEP priority sectors. Project Report. West of England Local Economic Partnership. [Submitted] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27732 ' Mearman, A., Papa, A. and Webber, D. J. (2014) Why do students study economics? Economics Issues, 19 (1). pp. 119-147. ISSN 1363-7029 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22592 ' Whitfield, J., Dioko, L., Webber, D. J. and Zhang, L. (2014) Attracting convention and exhibition attendance to complex MICE venues: Emerging data from Macao. International Journal of Tourism Research, 16 (2). pp. 169-179. ISSN 1099-2340 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22589 ' Hedges, M. and Webber, D. J. (2014) Using student evaluations to improve individual and departmental teaching qualities. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 19 (3). pp. 323-339. ISSN 1359-6748 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22595 ' Whitfield, J., Dioko, L. and Webber, D. J. (2014) Scoring environmental credentials: A case study of the UK conference sector. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22 (2). pp. 299-318. ISSN 0966-9582 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22591 ' Patsiotis, A., Webber, D. J. and Hughes, T. (2013) Internet shopping and internet banking in sequence: An explanatory case study. Journal of Financial Services Marketing, 18 (4). pp. 285-300. ISSN 1363-0539 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22565 ' Markey, R., Ravenswood, K., Webber, D. J. and Knudsen, H. (2013) Influence at work and the desire for more influence. Journal of Industrial Relations, 55 (4). pp. 507-526. ISSN 0022-1856 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22584 ' Kumar, S., Webber, D. J. and Fargher, S. (2013) Money demand stability: A case study of Nigeria. Journal of Policy Modelling, 35 (6). pp. 978-991. ISSN 0161-8938 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22587 ' Patsiotis, A., Hughes, T. and Webber, D. J. (2013) An examination of consumers’ resistance to computer-based technologies. Journal of Services Marketing, 27 (4). pp. 294-311. ISSN 0887-6045 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16703 ' Pacheco, G. and Webber, D. J. (2012) Quality of life research in economics: An introduction to the special issue. New Zealand Economic Papers, 26 (3). pp. 189-190. ISSN 0077-9954 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22580 ' Shamsan, Y., White, P. and Webber, D. J. (2012) Measuring poverty/health: A cautionary note. Empirical Economics Letters, 11 (12). ISSN 1681- 8997 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22583 ' Webber, D. J., White, P., Minondo, A. and Allen, D. O. (2012) Convergence across Spanish provinces: Cross-section and pairwise evidence. Empirical Economics Letters, 11 (6). pp. 611-622. ISSN 1681- 8997 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17470 ' Kumar, S., Webber, D. J. and Fargher, S. (2012) Testing the validity of the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle for Australia. Applied Economics, 44 (5). pp. 599-605. ISSN 0003-6846 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15886 ' Kumar, S., Webber, D. J. and Fargher, S. (2012) Wagner’s law revisited: Cointegration and causality tests for New Zealand. Applied Economics, 44 (5). pp. 607-616. ISSN 0003-6846 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15885 ' Webber, D. J. and Mearman, A. (2012) Students’ perceptions of economics: Identifying demand for further study. Applied Economics, 44 (9). pp. 1121-1132. ISSN 0003-6846 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15866 ' Kumar, S., Webber, D. J. and Perry, G. (2012) Real wages, inflation and productivity in Australia. Applied Economics, 44 (23). pp. 2945-2954. ISSN 0003-6846 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15819 ' Patsiotis, A., Hughes, T. and Webber, D. J. (2012) Adopters and non-adopters of Internet banking: A segmentation study. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 30 (1). pp. 20-42. ISSN 0265-2323 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15818 ' van der Westhuizen, D. W., Pacheco, G. and Webber, D. J. (2012) Culture, participatory decision making and job satisfaction. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23 (13). pp. 2661-2679. ISSN 0958-5192 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15817 ' Webber, D. J. (2012) Grade surprise and the decision to stay-on into post-compulsory education. Applied Economics Letters, 19 (11). pp. 1095-1099. ISSN 1350-4851 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15816 ' Mearman, A., Shoib, G., Wakeley, T. and Webber, D. J. (2012) Does pluralism in economics education make better educated, happier students? A qualitative analysis. International Review of Economics Education, 10 (2). ISSN 1477-3880 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/12323 ' Webber, D. J. and Curry, N. (2012) Economic performance in rural England. Regional Studies, 46 (3). pp. 279-291. ISSN 0034-3404 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/13613 ' Whitfield, J. and Webber, D. J. (2011) Which exhibition attributes create repeat visitation? International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30 (2). pp. 439-447. ISSN 0278-4319 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15888 ' Rossouw, S. and Webber, D. J. (2011) Millennium development goals: A concern over sub-national variations. International Business and Economic Research Journal, 10 (3). pp. 127-136. ISSN 1535-0754 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15887 ' Whitfield, J. and Webber, D. J. (2010) Sector differences in conference facility refurbishment. Tourism planning and development, 7 (2). pp. 163-178. ISSN 1479-053X Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15905 ' Allen, D. O. and Webber, D. J. (2010) Attendance and exam performance at university: A case study. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 15 (1). pp. 33-47. ISSN 1359-6748 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15904 ' Webber, D. J. and Allen, D. O. (2010) Environmental Kuznets curves: Mess or meaning? International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 17 (3). pp. 198-207. ISSN 1350-4509 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15903 ' Cutts, D. and Webber, D. J. (2010) Voting patterns, party spending and space in England and Wales. Regional Studies, 44 (6). pp. 735-760. ISSN 0034-3404 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15893 ' Webber, D. J., Johnson, S. and Fargher, S. (2010) Sector variations in SMEs’ use of external business advice. Local Economy, 25 (4). pp. 339-355. ISSN 0269-0942 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15892 ' Webber, D. J. and White, P. (2010) Productivity and proximity. Empirical Economics Letters, 9 (4). pp. 323-330. ISSN 1681-8997 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15891 ' White, P., Webber, D. J. and Helvin, A. (2010) Testing for a structural change of gradient in regression modelling. Empirical Economics Letters, 9 (8). pp. 819-826. ISSN 1681- 8997 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15890 ' Boddy, M., Plumridge, A. and Webber, D. J. (2010) Productivity in Wales: analysis of the impacts of peripherality on spatial patterns of productivity. Project Report. Welsh Assembly Government. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/12953 ' Thomas, W. and Webber, D. J. (2009) Choice at 16: School, parental and peer group effects. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 14 (2). pp. 119-141. ISSN 1359-6748 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15912 ' Milliner, I., White, P. and Webber, D. J. (2009) A statistical development of fixed odds betting rules in soccer. Journal of Gambling, Business and Economics, 3 (1). pp. 89-99. ISSN 1751-8008 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15911 ' Webber, D. J. (2009) Who stopped flying around of September 11th? Applied Economics Letters, 16 (13). pp. 1375-1381. ISSN 1350-4851 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15910 ' Webber, D. J. and White, P. (2009) An alternative test to check the validity of convergence results. Applied Economics Letters, 16 (18). pp. 1805-1808. ISSN 1350-4851 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15909 ' Webber, D. J., Hudson, J., Boddy, M. and Plumridge, A. (2009) Regional productivity differentials: Explaining the gap. Papers in Regional Science, 88 (3). pp. 609-621. ISSN 1056-8190 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15908 ' Perlo-Freeman, S. and Webber, D. J. (2009) Basic needs, government debt and economic growth. World Economy, 32 (6). pp. 965-994. ISSN 0378-5920 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15907 ' Webber, D. J., Curry, N. and Plumridge, A. (2009) Business productivity and area productivity in rural England. Regional Studies, 43 (5). pp. 661-675. ISSN 0034-3404 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15906 ' Plumridge, A., Webber, D. J., Boddy, M. and Hudson, J. (2008) Country-level business performance and policy asymmetries in Great Britain. International Journal of Business Performance Management (IJBPM), 10 (4). pp. 305-317. ISSN 1368-4892 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15914 ' Devins, D., Darlow, A. and Webber, D. J. (2008) Beyond 'Access': Internet use and take-up of online services by adults living in disadvantaged areas in England. Local Economy, 23 (1). pp. 47-57. ISSN 0269-0942 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15913 ' Webber, D. J. and Mearman, A. (2008) Student participation in sporting activities. Applied Economics, 41 (9). pp. 1183-1190. ISSN 0003-6846 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/12319 ' Webber, D. J., Boddy, M. and Plumridge, A. (2007) Explaining spatial variation in business performance in Great Britain. The European Journal of Comparative Economics, 4 (2). pp. 319-332. ISSN 1722-4667 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6120 ' Johnson, S., Webber, D. J. and Thomas, W. (2007) Which SMEs use external business advice? A multivariate subregional study. Environment and Planning A, 39 (8). pp. 1981-1997. ISSN 1472-3409 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6327 ' Webber, D. J. and White, P. (2007) Convergence towards a steady-state distribution. Economics Letters, 94 (3). pp. 338-341. ISSN 0165-1765 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6375 ' Boddy, M., Plumridge, A. and Webber, D. J. (2007) Export performance of South West businesses: Measuring and improving the impact of public intervention on regional exports. Technical Report. South West of England Regional Development Agency, Bristol. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10284 ' Boddy, M., Webber, D. J., Hudson, J. and Plumridge, A. (2006) Regional productivity differentials in the UK. In: Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, 7th-11th March, 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/9727 ' Whittard, D. and Webber, D. J. (2006) Why do foreign firms invest in south west England? Working Paper. University of the West of England. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/20018 ' Boddy, M., Hudson, J., Plumridge, A. and Webber, D. J. (2006) The determinants of regional and sub-regional productivity differentials. Technical Report. National Assembly of Wales. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10287 ' Webber, D. J., White, P. and Allen, D. O. (2005) Income convergence across US States: An analysis using measures of concordance and discordance. Journal of Regional Science, 45 (3). pp. 565-589. ISSN 0022-4146 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6329 ' Webber, D. J. and White, P. (2003) Regional factor price convergence across four major European countries. Regional Studies, 37 (8). pp. 773-782. ISSN 0034-3404 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/5872 '