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Dr John Embery

Course Director

Course Director for undergraduate economics programmes, researcher in social regional economy; combining interests in collective choice and experiences and regional development. His research is pluralistic and multidisciplinary, combining approaches from across the disciplines and using open-systems methodologies.

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About

Course Director for undergraduate economics programmes, researcher in social regional economy; combining interests in collective choice and experiences and regional development. His research is pluralistic and multidisciplinary, combining approaches from across the disciplines and using open-systems methodologies.

Initially reading for BA (Hons) Economics and Public Policy and MA Development Economics, John's early research focussed on the development of small island economies within the European Union policy frameworks and evaluated the efficacy of the frameworks for the needs of small island economies. Following these projects he then shifted his focus to researching the catalytic effect of stadia development on regional economic strategy in the Yorkshire region.

In recent years, John's work has concentrated on investigating collective choice in sports attendance, using a critical reaslist lens to examine hybrid behavioural/social economics characteristics of sports fan behaviour in the attendance demand for large, professional sports events. This PhD project applied behavioural economic choice theory from an open-systems methodological approach. Specifically, the project critiqued sports economics research on attendance demand, arguing it imports a mainstream, largely 'atomistic' economic agent that underrepresents the social nature of fandom and decision-making. It surveyed journal articles and textbooks to show how this agent dominates the field, then developed an alternative 'social-economic' agent informed by critical realism and Daniel Kahneman’s later work. The thesis proposed a mixed-methods research strategy, including tools like social network analysis, to better study attendance in open, socially embedded systems.

Looking forward, John's work shall apply the same methodological lens to a wider consideration of microeconomic theory development and seek to integrate shared agency with behavioural theory on utility and choice.

Academic positions

  • Course Director - Undergraduate Economics
    Leeds Beckett University, Economics, Leeds, United Kingdom | 2006 - 2025

Degrees

  • BA (Hons) Economics and Public Policy
    Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom | 1991 - 1994

  • MA (Econ) Development Economics
    University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom | 1994 - 1996

  • PhD
    Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom | 2017 - 2025

Research interests

John's current research interests seek to combine behavioural and social economics paradigms and apply heterodox methodology to the investigation of economic questions in two areas of focus. This two-part project aims to develop theory and policy applicable to the Yorkshire economy. The first area of focus is in developing theory on socialised consumption - how our behaviour and preferences differ when we consume goods collectively. The second, is in the social economy of leisure consumption, applying the analytical framework to collectively consumed leisure such as music venues, restaurants and sports events, where the nature of these types of experiences necessitate a reconsideration of the theory of  consumption, and a deeper acknowledgement of the social nature of the experience.

Publications (16)

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Conference Contribution

Critical success factors in the use of Objective 1 funding in the Western Isles economy

Featured September 2000 International Journal Of Applied Management. 1st International Conference
Conference Contribution

Evaluating the validity of Objective 1 funding in the Western Isles economy

Featured June 2002 Regional Studies Association 2nd International Conference Aix en Provence

The reform of the Structural Funding measures for the 1994-1999 period has led to a significant output of research on the impact of the funding in large mainland economies, but little about small islands in the European Union that receive structural funding. This paper applies a model of a small island economy and evaluates the validity of the design of the Objective 1 policy and its implementation in the Western Isles. Using data from interviews, planning strategies and evaluation reports the paper argues that the success achieved in the Western Isles economic development in the 1994-1999 period owes more to the management of the implementation by the local agencies than to the inception and design of the Objective 1 policy.

Conference Contribution

Urban-Rural Interaction: modelling small islands in the UK

Featured September 2002 International Journal Of Applied Management. 3rd International Conference
Conference Contribution

Behavioural Economics and the demand for sports consumption

Featured October 2010 2nd European Conference in Sports Economics Cologne, Germany
Journal article

Research Note: European Union Structural Funding and Small Island Economic Development

Featured 2000 International Journal of Applied Management1(1):105-114

The reform of the Structural Funding measures for the 1994-1999 period has led to a significant output of research on the impact of the funding in large mainland economies, but little about small islands in the European Union that receive structural funding. This research note introduces ongoing research into the impact of Structural Funds in the Western Isles, part of the Objective 1 region of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The note outlines the development of the Structural Funds and the funding measures introduced for the Highlands and Islands. The note proceeds to describe the difficulties faced by small islands in the development of their economies before stating the formal hypothesis to be tested and the methodological approach.

Journal article

Book Review: Governance, Institutional Change and Regional Development

Featured 2000 International Journal of Applied Management1(2):105-107
Conference Proceeding (with ISSN)

Critical success factors in the use of Objective 1 funding in the Western Isles economy

Featured September 2000 Applied Management: Theory and Practice, proceedings of the 1st International Conference Haigh R Dearne Valley Business School
AuthorsAuthors: Embery JK, Editors: Haigh R
Journal article

A theoretical evaluation of the validity of Objective 1 funding in the Western Isles economy

Featured 2004 International Journal of Applied Management

The reform of the Structural Funding measures for the 1994-1999 period has led to a significant output of research on the impact of the funding in large mainland economies, but little about small islands in the European Union that receive structural funding. This paper applies a model of a small island economy and evaluates the validity of the design of the Objective 1 policy and its implementation in the Western Isles. Using Potter’s model of Urban-Rural interaction in small island economies the paper argues that the design of the Objective 1 policy is inappropriate for the needs of small island economies such as the Western Isles.

Journal article

A theoretical evaluation of the validity of Objective 1 funding in the Western Isles economy

Featured 2004 International Journal of Applied Management4(1):100-112
Book

Attendance Demand in Sports Economics: A New Methodological Approach

Featured 22 June 2024 125 Palgrave Macmillan

This book provides a new and unique perspective on ideas of demand within sports economics. It reviews the methodologies that underpin the current analysis of the demand for sporting events, highlights their limitations, and proposes ways in which they can be improved. By proposing a new framework that takes approaches from behavioural economics, socio-economics and open-systems methodology, a new perspective is proposed that deepens our understanding of the demand for sporting events and is presented as a research strategy that embraces qualitative and mixed methods. This book offers insight into a key economic idea through the lens of sports economics and the attendance of sporting events. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in sports economics and the political economy of sport.

Chapter

Two birds with one stone: enhancing education for sustainable development and employability

Featured 19 March 2013 Enhancing education for sustainable development in Business and Management, Hospitality, Leisure, Marketing, Tourism
AuthorsAuthors: Thomopoulos N, Embery JK, Editors: Atfield R, Kemp P

This case study describes the design and delivery of a sustainable development module for undergraduate students at Leeds Metropolitan University. By explaining the methods used, it highlights the constantly evolving nature of education for sustainable development. At the same time it demonstrates that multiple objectives (for example those of students, higher education institutions (HEIs), government) may be met through the use of different delivery methods, available technology, student input and up-to-date research, while accommodating diverse learning styles.

Thesis or dissertation

THREE ESSAYS ON RESEARCH IN SPORTS ECONOMICS – A CRITIQUE OF CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGY.

Featured 01 October 2025
AuthorsAuthors: Embery J, Editors: Morgan J

This thesis makes two initial claims. First, that Sports Economics adopts its main theory and methods from the mainstream at large, and this includes (explicitly or implicitly) a standard economic agent, subject to some modifications, and that this agent lacks appropriate ‘sociality’, i.e. is ‘atomistic’. Second, there is scope to develop an alternative ‘social-economic’ agent. Subsequent to these claims, this thesis develops a concept of a social-economic agent and associated research strategy. The thesis draws on critical realism, Daniel Kahneman’s work, and a wide variety of literature from sociology, marketing, and elsewhere. The main focus of this thesis is methodological. Its originality lies in the overview it provides of the field, the insight it offers regarding a fundamental issue and the alternatives it offers. The thesis is arranged into six chapters. In Chapter One I provide an overview of the chapters, a rationale of the thesis, its claim to originality and the gaps it addresses, and set out a series of key concepts that recur throughout the thesis. In Chapter Two I undertake a detailed survey of published sports economics articles and an additional survey of textbooks. This survey establishes that the agent is appropriated from the field at large, and that a more social-economic agent, combined with more creative mixed methods research provides a way forward. In Chapter Three I develop an argument focused on terms of debate. The absence of adequate representation of the sociality of the agent in mainstream microeconomics, means there are limits to what can be achieved in sports economics attendance demand research. I distinguish between different ways of framing the value attendees attach to attendance and I set out the terms of a theoretical-methodological divide between social science and social science. In Chapter Four I offer a model of social economic agency, drawn from Daniel Kahneman’s later work. This provides the groundwork for a different approach to a behavioural social-economic agent, a concept of the agent which I place on the other side of the divide (i.e. social science). Chapter Five adopts an explicitly social-economic agent model, and I suggest a number of routes sports economists might take. I adopt a multi and mixed methods approach, which includes use of social network analysis as a research tool. Chapter Six concludes with an overview of the thesis and discussion of future directions of research. The thesis addresses two main gaps. First, subsequent to a comprehensive survey of literature, which identifies common usage of the mainstream economic agent in work on attendance demand, and a critique of the limitations of that agent, this thesis offers an alternative theorisation of a social-economic agent. Second, given that this social-economic agent cannot be adequately investigated solely in terms of standard quantitative techniques typically used in mainstream economics, this thesis provides an alternative methodology. Keywords: attendance demand, methodology, economic agent, critical realism, sports economics, decision-making, shared agency, Kahneman, retroduction.

Open Educational Resource

Economics for Marketing

Featured 2014
AuthorsSheehan BM, Embery J

What is this module about? To develop knowledge and understanding of the concepts and theories in economics that underpins consumer choice and market interactions. The lectures and seminars will explore the theories and empirical evidence regarding the choices made by consumers in the contemporary marketplace, and how these choices are shaped and influenced. Objectives On completion of the module, students will be able to: 1. Examine the key theories of behaviour and economic decision making of consumers around the globe; 2. Analyse the nature of behavioural and economic interactions using alternative perspectives; 3. Explain the inter-relationships between behaviour, choice and markets; 4. Demonstrate effective communication skills. Module Programme A series of 20 lecture/class sessions, comprising lectures and seminars, will consider the complexities of consumer choice and market interactions. The lectures will outline the key concepts and models. The seminar sessions will involve further elaboration and discussion of the lecture material and student-led discussion.

Chapter
Heterodox economics as a living body of knowledge: community, (in)commensurability, critical engagement, and pluralism
Featured 2016 The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics Routledge
AuthorsAuthors: Morgan JA, Embery J, Editors: Jo T-H, Chester L, D'Ippoliti C

The Handbook of Heterodox Economics contains a significant variety of contributions invited and ordered according to a number of themes. One useful way to bring final order to the whole, and by way of conclusion, is to return to the issue of what heterodox economics is, and to emphasize the characteristics that make the varieties of heterodoxy common and valuable. Heterodox economics is important irrespective of innovation within the mainstream. Its collective potential is as a critical community subject to constructive pluralism, and its further characteristics establish it as a living body of knowledge that plays an important role as social science, able to address the most important questions.

Chapter

Heterodox economics as a living body of knowledge: community, (in)commensurability, critical engagement, and pluralism

Featured 22 December 2025 The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics Volume 2: Dynamics and Alternatives Routledge

Current teaching

 

  • Professional Skills for Economists
  • Introduction to Economic Thought
  • Introductory Microeconomics
  • Behavioural Economics
  • Independent Research Projects

 

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Dr John Embery
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