Professor of Housing Economics, University of Glasgow
Studies. He has been a full time member of staff at the University in various guises since 1989. He became a professor in 2006. Ken was also Head of the Department of Urban Studies from 2005 to 2010 and associate dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and Social Sciences in 2009-10. He is now Director of Policy Scotland, the University's hub for policy research and knowledge exchange.
Ken's research interests are focused on the economic, financial and policy dimensions of housing. He has carried out research for government departments, ESRC, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, trade bodies, the private sector and international organisations like OECD. His current interests are on the financing and economics of social and affordable housing, and, the application of behavioural economics to housing.
Ken was managing editor of the Urban Studies journal for a decade. He was president of RC43 (housing) of the International Sociological Association and is a former president of the European Real Estate Society. He sits on four editorial advisorial boards. He was a visiting professor to the University of Amsterdam in 2011. He has acted as an advisor to the Scottish Parliament's Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee and given evidence to other similar Parliamentary committees..
After a period as chair of Sanctuary Scotland housing association, Ken is currently a non-executive director of Sanctuary housing association.
Ken regularly blogs on housing and related policy matters at http://wordpress.kengibb.com.
Theresa May's speech and the challenge to expand English social housing
Oct 06, 2017 00:20 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Amid the drama of Theresa Mays conference speech was the announcement of new funding for social housing and a new generation of council houses in England. This follows long-term under-investment in social and affordable...
Britain's housing market is in poor health, but it's not just a shortage – here's why
Apr 08, 2017 05:47 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The UKs housing market is in critical condition. The symptoms are stark: demand in several regions far outstrips supply, prices relative to earnings in many major cities are beyond the reach of most people, home ownership...
Property fears after Brexit vote are a sign of wider UK housing problems
Jul 07, 2016 17:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate
Immediately after the UK voted to leave the European Union, a number of lead economic indicators went into reverse. Notable among them were housing, property and real estate shares that fell sharply both in the...
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