I have been at UWA since 1981 as a Professor of Economics (1981-2018), BHP Research Fellow (2008-2017) and Emeritus Professor and Senior Honorary Research Fellow (2019-). I have expertise in international finance, monetary economics and applied microeconomics. My research has been supported by a series of grants from BHP, the ARC and other sources. I have published research in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, European Economic Review, International Economic Review, Journal of Business, Journal of International Economics, etc. Cambridge University Press has published two of my books, Economics and Marijuana (with X. Zhao, 2009) and Currencies, Commodities and Consumption (2013).

In 2024 I was named Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Society Award. I received the Austin Holmes Award Awarded in 2018 from the WA Branch of the Economic Society of Australia for contributions to the profession. I am a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (since 1998); and received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council in 2009.

Bob Gregory (of the ANU) and I initiated the PhD Conference in Economics and Business. Now a partnership between ANU, Melbourne, Monash, UNSW, UQ and UWA, the conferences are held annually and rotate among the partner universities. Over the last 30+ years, the conferences have provided the opportunity to gain exposure for, and comments on, their research to about 1,000 PhD students from around Australia and other countries. The conferences serve as an informal job market and major employers often attend. A number of outside bodies provide sponsorship. 

I have supervised a number of students write honours, masters and PhD theses in international finance, monetary economics, resource economics, exchange-rate economics, consumption economics, etc.

For more details on my activities, go to https://sites.google.com/view/kenclements/home

Education
PhD (in Economics), The University of Chicago, 1977
Master of Economics, Monash University, 1974
Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours), Monash University, 1973

Working on a book Short-cut Demand Elasticities and other Convenient Approaches to Consumer Demand (with H. Liu, M. J. Mariano, E. A. Selvanathan, S. Selvanathan and G. Verikios); food demand (with Long Vo, Synergy, Perth); and the job market for for PhDs in economics and finance. 

International economics, monetary economics and applied microeconomics

Head, Economics Program, The University of Western Australia, 2001-06, 2009-13

Economist, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, 1974, 1979 -81

Assistant Professor of Economics and International Business, Graduate School of Business, The University of Chicago, 1977-79

“Analysing Global Consumption Patterns with a Large Number of Goods”, ARC Discovery Project, 2013-15, $263,000.

“Commodity Booms and Busts - Implications for the Australian Economy”, ARC Discovery Project, 2010-12, $270,000 (with R. Tyers).

“Security in Retirement: Forecasting and Managing Macro Investment Risks”, ARC Discovery Project, 2008-10, $328,000 (with G. H. Kingston, H. Batemen, L. A. Fisher and S. Thorp).

“International Comparisons of Consumption, Incomes and Prices”, ARC Discovery Project, 2007-09, $182,000.

“Risk Management for Bonds, Currencies and Commodities”, ARC Discovery Project, 2005-07, $240,000 (with G. H. Kingston, H. Batemen, L. A. Fisher, M. Sherris and S. Thorp).

“Commodity Prices and Exchange Rates”, University of Chicago, 2005, $26,000.

“Exchange Rates and Commodity Prices in a Volatile Business Environment”, ARC Linkage Project; ACIL Tasman, AngloGold Australia and the WA Department of Industry and Resources, the industry partners, 2004-07, $142,000.

“International Comparison of Food Consumption Patterns”, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ACIAR, 2003, $22,000 (with Y. Wu).

“Stochastic Index Numbers and Their Application in Accounting, Economics and Finance”, ARC Discovery Project, 2003-05, $126,000 (with H. Y. Izan and E. A. Selvanathan).

“Economic Aspects of Wool in Western Australia”, ARC Linkage Project, Agriculture Western Australia, the industry partner, 2003-05, $480,000 (with M. J. Tcha).

“The Economics of Value-Adding in WA Agriculture”, Department of Agriculture and Food WA, 2002, $20,000.

“Modelling Illicit Markets: The Case of Marijuana”, ARC Discovery Project, 2001-03, $143,000 (with X. Zhao).

“Curbing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the WA economy”, ARC Small Grant, 1999, $9,000 (with Q. Ye).

“Living Standards and WA Agriculture”, ARC SPIRT Project; Department of Agriculture and Food WA, industry partner, 1998-2000, $243,000.

“Energy Costs and Mineral Production in Western Australia”, ARC Large Grant Scheme, 1998-2000, $127,000.

“The Economics of Energy Reform in Western Australia”, ARC and BHP Iron Ore, ARC Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry), 1996-98, $90,000.

“Simulation in Demand Analysis”, ARC Large Grant, 1996-97, $77,000.

“The Economics of the East Asian Steel industry”, Pohang Steel Research Institute (POSRI), Korea, 1995-96, $123,000 (with M. J. Tcha and R Greig).

“W.A. Gold Mining Industry Study”, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, 1995, $50,000 (with R. Greig).

“Minerals, East Asia and the WA Economy”, ARC and Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, ARC Collaborative Research Grant, 1995-97, $199,000 (with R. Greig).

I have taught Monetary Economics, International Finance, Macroeconomics for MBAs, International Trade, Business Economics, Public Finance, etc.