Robert Butler

Biography

Dr Robbie Butler has been a college lecturer in the Department of Economics since September 2006, completing his doctorate in 2013 under the supervision of award winner Professor Geoffrey Hodgson. Robbie is the first member of the College of Business and Law to win the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2016). This follows on from his 2015 award of the prestigious at University College Cork. Robbie is the first staff member to be honoured with both awards. Robbie research interests are focused on institutional economics and the economics of sport. He is a founding member of the (WINIR) and is a member of both the (IASE) and (ESAE). His research has been published across peer-reviewed journals including and He is a regular contributor on economic matters in both the Irish national print media and on regional and national radio, and is a frequent guest on WLR’s Robbie graduated with a Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (MTLHE)in March 2017, having graduated from the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (PCTLHE) in 2015 and Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (PGDTLHE) in 2016.

Research Interest

Robbie's doctoral research with Professor Geoffrey Hodgson examines the impact of state development and institutional flexibility on economic growth from 1880 to 2008. The thesis finds both improvements in state development and institutional flexibility explain changes in cross-country growth over the long run. This research was conducted in association with the at University of Hertfordshire Robbie has a keen interest in sports economics and has commented in both local and national print media and radio debates on the subject. Most of his work in this area can be found at He is published in both the area of macroeconomics and sports economics. Robbie has organised a number of national and international conferences. These include the 2nd Annual Nevin Economic Research Institute Labour Market Conference (2014), the 2nd Biennial University College Cork Economics Society Conference (2014) and the 9th Annual Irish Society of New Economists Conference (2012). Robbie also coordinated the Department of Economics Wednesday Workshop Research Series from July 2011 to August 2013.