Ian Wilson BA, MSc

Ian has considerable expertise and experience in economic evaluation and econometric/statistical analysis. This includes the application of Cost Benefit Analysis (including the economic valuation of impacts), economic impact analysis, analysis of financial accounts, survey research and the use of advanced statistical methods in the analysis of cross-sectional, multi-level and longitudinal datasets. Much of his work has involved devising innovative methods and solutions for these methods. For example: producing a measure of a Young Person's proximity to the labour market; establishing the monetary value of health impacts from domestic energy improvements to reduce cold homes; identifying the impact of direct payment of housing benefit on tenants rent payment behaviour; and identifying the impact of New Deal Communities (NDC), included pioneering work to monetise the value of 'perceptional' outcomes from regeneration programmes such as NDC. He has contributed to over seventy policy orientated papers and reports. Ian has also produced papers for peer-reviewed academic journals and presented at conferences and seminars.

His research interests include economic methods for valuation and evaluation, housing, worklessness and welfare reform.

Research interests

• assessing economic impact
• estimating the monetised value of outputs and outcomes
• GIS and quantitative research methods
• the impact of regeneration programmes on housing, health, crime, social capital and labour markets
• inequalities and disadvantage within labour markets.

DSResearch Institute

Social Sciences and Humanities

Welfare reform and labour markets

Regeneration and economic development

Voluntary and community sector

Vulnerable groups

Measuring outcomes and impact

• Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research

2012-2020 Evaluation of Talent Match, funded by the BIG Lottery, £1.4 million. Role: Lead quantitative analysis.

2014-2015 Evaluation of HB2U, funded by Circle Housing Wherry, £37,750. Role: Director.

2015 The Big Tenant Survey, Funded by Housing Partners, £20,000. Role: Manager.

2015-2016 Evaluation of the First Call Service, funded by British Red Cross, £60,000. Role: Lead quantitative and impact analysis.

2014-2020 Evaluation of the West Yorkshire Finding Independence Project, funded by DISC, £300,000. Role: Lead impact analysis.

Key clients

• Big Lottery Fund
• Cabinet Office
• Capacitybuilders
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Go Racing in Yorkshire
• Home Office
• Office for the Deputy Prime Minister
• Scope
• Wakefield and District Housing
• Yorkshire Forward

Journal articles

Wilson, I. (2019). Direct Payment of Housing Benefit: responsibilisation at what cost to landlords. International journal of housing policy. http://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2019.1584493

Hickman, P., Kemp, P.A., Reeve, K., & Wilson, I. (2017). The impact of the direct payment of housing benefit: evidence from Great Britain. Housing Studies, 32 (8), 1105-1126. http://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2017.1301401

Sanderson, E., & Wilson, I. (2017). Does locality make a difference? The impact of housing allowance reforms on private landlords. Housing Studies, 32 (7), 948-967. http://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2017.1291911

Wilson, I. (2013). Outcomes for 'stayers' in urban regeneration areas: the New Deal for Communities Programme in England. Urban Research & Practice Online ISSN 1753-5077, 6 (2), 174-193. http://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2013.808444

Wilson, I. (2012). Using shadow pricing to value outcomes from regeneration programmes: evidence from the New Deal for Communities Programme in England. Town Planning Review, 83 (6), 669-694. http://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2012.42

Lawless, P., Foden, M., Wilson, I., & Beatty, C. (2010). Understanding area-based regeneration: The New Deal for Communities Programme in England. Sage Urban Studies Abstracts, 47 (2), 257-275. http://doi.org/10.1177/0042098009348324

Beatty, C., Foden, M., Lawless, P., & Wilson, I. (2010). Area-based regeneration partnerships and the role of central government: the New Deal for Communities programme in England. Policy and Politics, 38 (2), 235-251. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557309X462141

Wilson, I., Lawless, P., Grimsley, M., & Foden, M. (2010). Linking interventions to outcomes in area regeneration: The New Deal for Communities Programme in England. Town Planning Review, 81 (2), 151-172. http://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2009.32

Fothergill, S., & Wilson, I. (2007). A million off incapacity benefit: How achievable is Labour's target? Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31 (6), 1007-1023. http://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bem029

Robinson, D., Green, S., & Wilson, I. (n.d.). Housing options for older people in a reimagined housing system: a case study from England. International Journal of Housing Policy.

Conference papers

Sanderson, E., Wells, P., & Wilson, I. (2015). Young people's resilience and involvement : possible elements of the European Union's Structural and Investment Funds in addressing youth unemployment? In Challenges for the New Cohesion Policy in 2014-2020 : An Academic and Policy Debate, Riga, 4 February 2015 - 6 February 2015. http://www.regionalstudies.org/conferences/conference/challenges-for-the-new-cohesion-policy-in-2014-2020-an-academic-and-policy

Book chapters

Sanderson, E., Wells, P., & Wilson, I. (2016). Resilience and involvement: the role of the EU's Structural and Investment Funds in addressing youth unemployment. In Bachtler, J., Berkowitz, P., Hardy, S., & Muravska, T. (Eds.) EU cohesion policy: reassessing performance and direction. (pp. 127-139). Abingdon: Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315401867

Reports

Archer, T., Wilson, I., & Green, S. (2018). Effective housing for people on low incomes in the Welsh Valleys. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/effective-housing-people-low-incomes-welsh-valleys

Gilbertson, J., Leather, D., Mccarthy, L., & Wilson, I. (2018). An evaluation of Cash Smart Credit Savvy: Final Report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/eval-cash-smart-credit-savvy-final-report.pdf

Batty, E., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., & Willis, B. (2018). Children's Community evaluation 2017 report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/childrens-community-evaluation-2017.pdf

Archer, T., Green, S., Leather, D., Mccarthy, L., Wilson, I., Robinson, D., & Tait, M. (2018). Older people's housing, care and support needs in Greater Cambridge 2017-2036. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/older-peoples-housing-care-support-greater-cambridge.pdf

Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., ... Willis, B. (2018). Children's Communities programme evaluation 2018 report. Save the Children UK. https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/education/children%27s_communities_y2_report_final.pdf

Batty, E., Foden, M., Green, S., Mccarthy, L., Robinson, D., & Wilson, I. (2017). Evaluation of Extra Care Housing in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/eval-extra-care-housing-wales.pdf

Batty, E., Foden, M., Green, S., Mccarthy, L., Robinson, D., & Wilson, I. (2017). Evaluation of extra care housing in Wales: Executive summary. Cardiff: Welsh Government. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/eval-extra-care-housing-wales-summary.pdf

Cole, I., Green, S., Pattison, B., Reeve, K., & Wilson, I. (2017). Capping aspiration : the millennial housing challenge. Sheffield Hallam University for the Sovereign Housing Association. https://www.sovereign.org.uk/assets/CappingAspirations

Green, S., Pattison, B., Reeve, K., & Wilson, I. (2016). How affordable is affordable housing? Norwich, UK: Flagship Group.

Pattison, B., Tyler, P., Wells, P., & Wilson, I. (2016). Regeneration revival? Making housing-led regeneration work across England. Sheffield: Chartered Institute of Housing. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/regeneration-revival.pdf

Pattison, B., Robinson, D., & Wilson, I. (2016). Tenant perception of the Right to Buy extension : evidence from the Big Tenant Survey. Sheffiled: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/tenants-perceptions-right-to-buy.pdf

Reeve, K., Wilson, I., Hickman, P., & Dayson, C. (2014). Direct payment demonstration projects: Key findings of the 18th months' rent account analysis exercise. London: Department for Work and Pensions. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/dpdp-18-month-rent-account-analysis.pdf

Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Kemp, P., Wilson, I., & Green, S. (2014). Direct payment demonstration projects: Key findings of the programme evaluation. Final report. London: Department for Work and Pensions. http://www.gov.uk/Government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/research#research-publications

Bashir, N., Cronin De Chavez, A., Gilbertson, J., Tod, A., Sanderson, E., & Wilson, I. (2013). An Evaluation of the FILT Warm Homes Service. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/eval-filt-warm-homes.pdf

Theses / Dissertations

Baxendale, J.K. (2015). Understanding 'what works': Evidence based regional policy making in England. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wells, P., & Wilson, I.

Ian is an economist and a research fellow in the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR). He has extensive research experience on urban and regional issues, wellbeing, the measurement and assessment of impact and the valuation of outcomes. Ian has worked on research and evaluation projects sponsored by a range of commissioning bodies, including government departments, voluntary organisations and Regional Development Agencies.