Laurie Macfarlane

Next week, Laurie Macfarlane will start in the new role of openDemocracyUK economics editor. Laurie currently works as senior economist at the New Economics Foundation, and is co-author of the recent and critically acclaimed book ‘Rethinking the economics of land and housing’, described by the Financial Times as “a lucid exposition of the dysfunctional British housing market”.

Laurie has previously worked as an economist with various UK and Scottish government agencies, and with the Scottish think tank Common Weal. He has appeared as an economic analyst on a number of major broadcasters and written for publications including The Guardian, and openDemocracy.

Laurie’s arrival marks an expansion of openDemocracyUK in recent months. He will lead on our ongoing economics coverage, where we are working to get to grips with the long running economic crisis unfolding in Britain and to bring people together to figure out an economic programme for the 21st century. He will also work on the Civil Society Futures project which we are delighted to be playing a key role in, exploring how civil society in England can flourish in a fast changing world, and will be working across oD-UK as we continue to try to get to understand the unfolding crisis in Britain's democracy, its root causes and the injustices which stem from it.

We are excited to have Laurie joining our expanding team.