Dr Christopher Decker has over 20 years’ experience as a professional economist during which time he has combined an academic career with practical advisory work for government bodies, regulators and private clients.

He is currently a Research Fellow specialising in law and economics and regulation at the University of Oxford, where he teaches on the Regulation course and supervises doctoral students working on topics related to regulation and competition economics. Christopher sits on a number of advisory panels including the UK Competition and Markets Authority academic panel; the UK Better Regulation Executive Network of Experts; an Expert Group of the United Nations Global Water Programme; and the Expert Panel of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Over the course of his career, Christopher has prepared over 50 reports and research studies for international organizations, government bodies, regulators and private companies. These include reports and studies for international organizations (such as the World Bank, OECD, European Commission, European Parliament and European Central Bank); UK regulators and government departments (Cabinet Office, Civil Aviation Authority, National Infrastructure Commission, Ofgem, Ofcom, CAA, Ofwat, the Competition Commission, Office of Fair Trading, Competition and Markets Authority, the Legal Services Board, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the Payment Systems Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority) and government departments and regulators in Australia, Argentina, Hong Kong, Lithuania New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.

He has also provided expert evidence in legal proceedings before the European Court of Justice, World Bank International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, International Chamber of Commerce, UK Supreme Court and the Irish High Court.

Research

Christopher Decker’s research focuses on economic aspects of law and regulation and wider political economy. Chris has worked in almost all areas of economic regulation including: energy, communications, transport, water, financial services, legal and professional services and health. Recent research has focussed on issues such as:

•  the effects of competition policy on inequality
•  the economic impacts of water scarcity and drought in the context of climate change
• the design of regulatory frameworks to safely, fairly and efficiently integrate unmanned aircraft (drones) into shared airspace
•  regulatory issues associated with a shift towards a cashless society
• the impact of automation on legal services regulation
• regulatory approaches to digitized and distributed energy systems.

Regulating networks in decline (Journal of Regulatory Economics, 2016)