Resume Dr Tim B. Thornton
Qualifications
- PhD (Economics), Department of Economics, La Trobe University 2013.
- Master of Arts (International Development), School of Politics, Monash University, 2002.
- Graduate Diploma of Arts (International Development), School of Politics, Monash University, 1998.
- Diploma of Health Sciences, University of New England, 1991.
Current Employment and Affiliations
- Director, School of Political Economy, Melbourne.
- Senior Research Fellow, Economics in Context Initiative, Global Development and Policy Centre, Frederick Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, Boston.
- Senior Research Fellow, Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, Boston.
- Member, Advisory Council, Centre for Economy Studies, Amsterdam.
- Member, Editorial Committee, Journal of Australian Political Economy.
Books
- Neva Goodwin, Jonathan Harris, Pratistha Joshi Rajkarnikar, Brian Roach, and Tim Thornton (2024) Principles of Economics in Context, Routledge, New York.
- Primrose, D., Stilwell, F., Thornton, T (Editors) (2022) Handbook of Alternative Theories of Political Economy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
- Thornton, T. (2017) From Economics to Political Economy: The Promise, Problems and Solutions of Pluralist Economics, Routledge, London.
Book Chapters
- Thornton, T (2022) ‘Pluralist Political Economy’ in Primrose, D., Stilwell, F., Thornton, T. (In-Press). Handbook of Alternative Theories of Political Economy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
- Stilwell, F & Thornton, T (2022) ‘Strategies for Educational Change’ in Primrose, D., Stilwell, F., Thornton, T. (In-Press). Handbook of Alternative Theories of Political Economy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
- Thornton, T (2016) ‘The Coming Complexity Revolution?’ in Reclaiming Pluralism in Economics, eds. J Coursivanos, J Doughney and A Millmow, Routledge, London, pp. 238-49.
Journal articles
- Thornton, T. (2024) Beyond Green Growth, Degrowth, Post-Growth and Growth Agnosticism Journal of Australian Political Economy. No 94
December. - Thornton, T & Maier, M (2020) A Survey of US Community Colleges, International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Vol 11. No. 1
- Thornton, T & Maier, M (2020) Roundtable on Community Colleges, International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Vol 11. No. 1.
- Thornton, T. (2018) ‘A Specific Plan to Change Economics Textbooks’, World Economics Association Commentaries, Vol 8. No 5. December.
- Thornton, T. (2017) ‘The Intellectual Isolation of Mainstream Economics’, Journal of Australian Political Economy, No 80. Summer.
- Thornton, T. (2015) ‘The Changing Face of Mainstream Economics?’, Journal of Australian Political Economy, No 75. Winter.
- Thornton, T. (2014) ‘ Are Employers Currently Interested in a Reformed Economics Curriculum?’, Australasian Journal of Economics Education Vol 11 (1).
- Thornton, T. & Argyrous, G. (2014) ‘Introductory Political Economy Subjects in Australian Universities: Recent Trends and Possible Futures’, Australasian Journal of Economics Education, Volume 10 (2).
- Thornton, T. (2014) ‘A Conversation with Professor Frank Stilwell’, International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Volume 5 (2).
- Thornton, T. & Argyrous, G. (2014) ‘Disciplinary Differentiation and Institutional Independence: a Viable Template for a Pluralist Economics’, International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Volume 5 (2).
- Thornton, T. (2013) ‘The Narrowing of the Australian Economics Curriculum: an Analysis of the Problem and a Suggested Solution’, The Economic Record, Volume 89 S(1), July, pp. 206-114.
Thornton, T. (2012) ‘The Economics Curriculum in Australian Universities 1980 to 2011’, Economic Papers, Vol. 30, No 1, March pp.103-113. - Thornton, T. (2003) ‘Policing the Do-Gooders: the Right’s Attack on NGOs’, Overland, 173, Summer, pp. 28-35.
- Thornton, T. (2002) “Australian NGOs as a Danger to Democracy?”, Overland, 168, Spring, pp. 58-67.
Theses
- Thornton, T (2013) The possibility of a pluralist economics curriculum in Australian universities: historical forces and contemporarystrategies PhD Thesis. La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Publications and Presentations
Newspaper Articles, Opinion Pieces
- Thornton, T (2024) Understanding and Transitioning Towards a Circular Economy, Economics in Context Initiative, Global Policy Development Centre, Boston University.
- Thornton, T (2024) Developing The Well Being Economy: The Current State of Play, Economics in Context Initiative, Global Policy Development Centre, Boston University.
- Thornton, T (2023) Are Personal Carbon Allowances the Missing Policy for Addressing Climate Change? Economics in Context Initiative, Global Policy Development Centre, Boston University.
- Thornton, T. (2021) What is Wrong with the Reserve Bank’s Push to Encourage the Study of Economics? Progress in Political Economy July 15, 2021
- Thornton, T. (2021) Competition or Cooperation? Understanding Human Behaviour in Economic Analysis Economics in Context Initiative, Global Policy Development Centre, Boston University.
- Thornton, T (2020) The Problem with the Way Economists are Educated, Economics in Context Initiative, Global Policy Development Centre, Boston University.
- Thornton, T (2020) Morrison’s Covid-19 Commission: Industry Policy in Reverse , Independent Australia, 10th August.
- Thornton, T. (2017) Economists have to let go of the delusion that they have all the answers ’ The Guardian, 7 April.
- Thornton, T. (2016) ‘Extreme inequality is an extreme problem’ Huffington Post, 27 October.
- Thornton, T. (2014) ‘The problem with the way we educate economists’ The Age Melbourne Tuesday 14 May p.18.
Media Interviews, Public Seminars and Workshops
- 18th May 2023. Pluralist Economics. Presentation to Rethinking Economics, St Gallen, Switzerland.
- 9th Aug 2021. Better Economics and the Duty to Rescue, Big Ideas, Radio National, Australia, 9th August
- 17-18th May 2021. A Better Economics for a Better World. Communities in Control Conference. 17-18th May, Melbourne, Australia
- 5 June 2020. History and Theory of Cooperatives. Presentation to Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Cooperative.
- Oct 6 2020. Political Economy and Local Government. Presentation to Local Government Professionals, Melbourne.
- June 11 2020 Political Economy and Local Government. Presentation to Local Government Professionals, Melbourne.
- Oct 7 2020 Sustainable Economy Presentation to Darebin Climate Action Network.
- Oct 28 2020 What would a Sustainable Economy look like? Presentation to Extinction Rebellion.
- Feb 8, 2020 Alternative Conceptions of a Sustainable Economy. National Sustainable Living Festival. Melbourne
- 20 March 2015. Panellist, Victoria VCE Teacher’s Conference 2015, Melbourne. Participating in the seminar on ‘Ethical Issues.’ and presenting an analysis of the claim ‘Development must be sustainable’.
- 25 June 2014. Panellist, Smaller Government, Bigger Economy? Deficits and Growth. City of Melbourne event held at Federation Square, Melbourne. Co-panellists were The Hon. John Brumby, Professor Judith Sloan, and the CEO of ACOSS Dr Cassandra Goldie. Discussion was subsequently broadcast by Radio National’s Big Ideas program on 7 July 2014.
- 9 May 2014. Panellist, Carrots and Sticks: Economics in Design for ‘SOL:id’ RMIT University. Co-panellists were Dr Gretchen Wilkins, RMIT University and Ian Shears from City of Melbourne.
- September 2013. Interviewed for Radio National’s Hindsight in relation to the Sydney University political economy dispute.
- Feb-March 2013. Lecturer for six-week course ‘Economics for Everyone’, Melbourne Free University.
- November 2012. Interviewed and photographed as part of the article ‘Dark Days for the Dismal Science’, The Age, 6 November.
- October 2012. Participant in the public seminar, ‘The Future of the Economics Education in Australia’, Monash University.
- March 2004. Address on Political Advocacy of NGOs, Trades Hall, Melbourne, presented by the Fabian Society, the Labour Society and Overland.
- March 2002. Participant in panel discussion on NGOs organised by the Victorian Writers Centre and Overland. Other panellists included Andrew Norton, Centre for Independent Studies and Gary Hughes, The Age.
Previous Employment
- November 2016 to August 2018, Director, Politics, Philosophy and Economics Degree, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
- October 2014 to October 2016 Director, Master of International Development, Department of Politics and Philosophy and Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
- July 2014 to July 2015. Research Officer, Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- Dec 2013 to Oct 2014. Senior Research Assistant. School of Economics, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
- Aug 2013 – Jun 2014. Sessional Lecturer, Department of Politics and Education, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 2007 to 2013. Associate Lecturer, Department of Economics and Finance, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 2002 – 2007. Fixed Term and Sessional Lecturer and Subject Coordinator, Department of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne Australia.
- 2001 – 2003. Project Manager, Monash-Austrade Company Case Studies and Surveys Database, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 2001. Research Officer, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 2000. Research Assistant, Department of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 1999. Project Officer, Australian APEC Study Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
- 1995-1999 Project Officer, National Centre for South Asian Studies, Melbourne, Australia.
Awards
- 2018 $1,000 La Trobe University Publishing Award .
- 2016 $1,000 La Trobe University Publishing Award .
- 2014 $2000 payment La Trobe University Publishing Award.
- 2011 Best paper in category award at 2011 Society of Heterodox Economists Annual Conference, Sydney, 4-5 December.
2008 $46,315 Faculty Major Research Grant (as a part of a four-member team).’ - 2007 Award for excellence in teaching, Dept. of Economics, Monash University.
- 2006 Award for excellence in teaching, Dept. of Economics, Monash University.
University Teaching
Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University
- Subject Coordinator, Political Economy – POL5CPE (2016, 2017,2018).
- Subject Coordinator, Contemporary Political Economy – POL2PPE (2017, 2018)
- Subject Coordinator, Field Methods for Development – DST5FMD (2015, 2018).
- Subject Coordinator, Professional Competence in the Workplace – POL3PCW (2018)
- Subject Coordinator, Politics, Philosophy and Economics – POL1PPE (2016, 2017, 2018).
- Subject Coordinator, Contemporary Approaches to Development – DST5MDF (2018)
- Subject Co-Coordinator, Making Social Change Happen – POL5MSH (2015, 2016).
- Subject Coordinator, Development and Environment – DST5DAE (2016).
- Subject Coordinator, International Development Internship – DST5INT (2014-2016).
- Subject Coordinator, International Development Research Project – DST5IDR (2014-2016).
- Subject Co-Coordinator, Issues in International Development – POL5ISD (2015, 2018).
- Guest Lecturing at La Trobe: Contemporary Approaches to Development – DST5CAD (2015), States in Transition: Peacebuilding after Civil War and Regime Change – POL5QAQ (2015), Contemporary Politics of Northeast Asia – POL2CPA (2015, 2016).
- Guest Lecturer on economic governance for the subject Governance and Social Policy – PPMN90044 University of Melbourne (2015, 2016).
- Guest Lecturer on the subject of economics and public policy for the subject Public Policy in Australia – POL30010 Swinburne University (2014).
School of Education and Social Science, Swinburne University
- 2014 Lecturer and Subject Coordinator, Conflict and its Resolution – POL20011.
- 2014 Guest Lecturer Australian Foreign Policy – POL20008.
- 2013 Lecturer and Subject Coordinator, Global Politics – HAP117.
School of Economics, La Trobe University
- 2013. Lecturer, Sustainability in Global Business.
- 2011-2012. Programme Coordinator: Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree.
- 2009-2012. Lecturer and Subject Coordinator Competing Approaches in Contemporary Economics.
- 2011-2012. Subject Coordinator, PPE Macroeconomics and PPE Microeconomics years one to three.
- 2012. Honours Directed Readings in heterodox macroeconomics.
- 2011. Honours supervisor, Mr Ben Brocchi. Topic of study: the relevance of controlled randomised testing in international development.
- 2011. Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for the third/fourth-year economic history subject Growth and Decline in the Global Economy.
- 2009. Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for the second-year economic history subject Modern World Economy.
- 2009. Supervisor for honours thesis by Mr Timur Behlul. Thesis title: Are Minsky’s Ideas more applicable to the Great Recession or the Great Depression. An extract from this thesis was later published in the ‘A’ ranked Journal of Post-Keynesian Economics.
- 2008. Subject Coordinator for the third-year subject Comparative Economics Systems.
- 2008. Honours Directed Readings in institutional economics.
- 2008. Tutor, Introductory Statistics.
- 2008. Assessor and moderator for La Trobe’s external programs in microeconomics.
- 2008. Tutor and tutorial coordinator Introductory Microeconomics
Monash University
- 2004-2007. Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for the third-year subject Globalisation and Economic Systems.
- 2003 – 2006. Lecturer for the second-year economic history subject Business in Asia
- 2002 – 2004. Guest Lecturer for second-year subject Australia in the Asian Business World.
- 2004 – 2006. Guest Lecturer for the Masters Subject Investigating Asia.