Michael Palmer is associate professor in economics at the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. He is also research coordinator of the Asia and Pacific Hub of the Disability Data Initiative. His research aims to use data to develop the evidence base for policies which improve the lives of people living with disabilities around the world. He is an award winning lecturer and the author of over twenty academic journal articles and book chapters including the forthcoming chapter on the Economics of Disability in the Handbook of Labour, Human Resources and Population Economics. His research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, WA Health and the World Health Organisation.