Richard Layard British economist Date of Birth: 15.03.1934 Country: Great Britain

1. Richard Layard: A Pioneer in Economics
2. Early Life and Education
3. Key Contributions
4. Government Advisor
5. Improving Access to Psychological Therapy
6. House of Lords
7. Personal Life

Richard Layard: A Pioneer in Economics

Richard Layard, a renowned British economist, has dedicated his career to addressing unemployment and economic inequality. He is also a leading researcher on the concept of happiness, positing that improving mental wellbeing can significantly enhance social and economic outcomes.

Early Life and Education

Layard was born on March 15, 1934. He attended Eton College, King's College, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics, earning his PhD in economics in 1967.

Key Contributions

Layard's early career included serving as a senior research officer for the influential Robbins Committee on Higher Education. His work on the committee's report significantly contributed to the expansion of British universities in the 1960s and 1970s.

Moreover, Layard founded and directed the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics in 1990. In 1985, he established the Employment Institute, which played a pivotal role in advancing social welfare policies.

Government Advisor

Layard has held advisory positions for numerous organizations, including the governments of the United Kingdom and Russia. He was one of the economic advisors to the Russian government in 1991-1992, and served as an economic advisor to the British government on employment and skills from 1997 to 2001.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapy

Layard's proposal for psychological therapies was adopted by the British government in 2005. As the National Advisor for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) program, he has actively promoted the provision of accessible mental health support.

House of Lords

Layard became a life peer and member of the House of Lords for the Labour Party in 2000, taking the title Baron Layard of Highgate.

Personal Life

In 1991, Layard married Molly Christine Meacher, a prominent British social worker and former wife of the Labour politician and Member of Parliament, Michael Meacher. They were married until 2006, when Molly herself became a life peer as Baroness Meacher. Lord Layard and Baroness Meacher are one of the few married couples to hold peerages in their own right.