Head of Research - Leeds Policy Institute
Sasha Johnson’s intellectual pursuits centre on the intersection of human agency and structural incentives, seeking to understand why economic agents deviate from expected rational outcomes. As the Head of Research at the Leeds Policy Institute, he directs seven divisions and over fifty researchers, having instituted an Academic Advisory Council to ensure research integrity. This reinforces his commitment to a heterodox approach and methodological rigour, reflected in his BSc and upcoming MSc Economics at Warwick. His primary focus is Behavioural Economic Policy, aiming to test neoclassical axioms of rationality using cognitive science, because overcoming theoretical limitations is vital for policy efficacy. His dissertation applies Prospect Theory to model intra-household conspicuous consumption to design progressive consumption taxes. After graduation, Sasha intends to enter the Government Economic Service to concentrate on evidence-based policy application, ultimately transitioning to a prominent non-partisan think tank (e.g. IFS) to advise the government on policy feasibility and implementation.