Arndt-Corden Department of Economics

Professor Kym Anderson from the Arndt–Corden Department of Economics at Crawford School has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2015.

Professor Anderson has been recognised for his contribution to agricultural economics, viticulture and poverty reduction in developing countries. Professor Anderson has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Professor Anderson has had a distinguished career since he joined the ANU Research School of Pacific Studies as a Research Fellow in Economics in 1977. His career has also included roles as the first economist to be appointed to a World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Panel from 1996-2008, being a member of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Advisory Panel to produce the first White Paper on Australia’s Foreign and Trade Policies in 1996 and serving on the board of number economics journals.

He is the author of more than 35 books and 350 articles in journals or edited volumes.

Professor Anderson is a Foundation Executive Director of the Wine Economics Research Centre, and was a Foundation Executive Director at the Centre for International Economic Studies.

He is Chair, Board of Trustees, of the Washington DC based International Food Policy Research Institute and has previously worked at the World Bank.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, a Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, and a Fellow of the Asia and the Pacific Policy Society.

Professor Anderson said he was thrilled with his award, and the recognition it gives to his type of public policy research and analysis.

“It’s a wonderful honour, not only personally but also for giving prominence to efforts aimed at liberalising agricultural trade, reducing poverty and improving global food security,” Professor Anderson said.

“The top Millennium Development Goal was to reduce poverty and hunger, and that’s exactly what this work has been all about.”

His Arndt-Corden colleague Professor Peter Warr praised the many important contributions Professor Anderson has made during his career.

“Professor Kym Anderson is a world leader in the application of economic analysis to international trade in agricultural products. This is an important issue for Australia and for many of the world’s poorest countries,” said Professor Warr.

“His own research output has been enormous. He has also held senior research positions at the World Trade Organization in Geneva and the World Bank in Washington, where he organised large teams of researchers to study the relationship between international trade in agricultural products at the global level and the reduction in poverty in developing countries. This work produced seminal, multi-author studies of this issue.

“He has also played an important role in the governance of institutions involved in agricultural research, including the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington. Professor Anderson’s contributions therefore relate not only to his own research but also to his leadership in organising other scholars to contribute to research in his chosen area.”

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Harding congratulated Professor Anderson, and all ANU alumni recognised in the Queens’ Birthday Honours list.

“To be honoured in the Order of Australia is a magnificent achievement,” Professor Harding said.

“Congratulations to Kym, who is recognised for his eminent service to higher education and agricultural economics, and his work to alleviate poverty and increase food security around the world.”

Crawford School Director Professor Tom Kompas also congratulated Professor Anderson and said the honour recognised a lifetime commitment to world-class public policy research.

“This is a fantastic recognition for someone who is quite rightly recognised as a leading expert in his field. For more than 30 years he has been at the forefront of important research into agricultural economics and his work is hugely influential.

“I’m delighted to hear of his award and congratulate him on behalf of the whole school.”