My thesis addresses the political economy of climate policy. It asks what political and economic conditions enable or inhibit effective climate action through two complementary lines of inquiry. The first examines how wealth inequality undermines the conditions for effective climate governance. The second examines what political and economic conditions determine green industrial policy strategies.
Supervisors: Professors Jeroen van den Bergh and Giorgos Kallis
University College London
2018–2019
MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology (distinction)
Awarded distinction for dissertation: 'An indigenous encounter with neoliberalism: A case study of the Wayuu and El Cerrejón', based on fieldwork in La Guajira, Colombia
Courses: Anthropology of capitalisms, Anthropology of crime, Methods in ethnography, Critical issues in anthropology, The politics of human rights in Latin America
King's College London
2013–2016
BA in History (first class)
Awarded first class grade for dissertation: 'The conception of the Scots and the use of history in Baldred Bisset's Processus'
Modules included: history of the Middle East since 1800, history of modern Europe and history of the British Empire
Publications
Morrison, J., van den Bergh, J., & Kallis, G. (2025). The impact of wealth inequality on carbon emissions and climate policy. Climate Policy, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2025.2571400
Johnson, E. A., Webster, H., Morrison, J., Thorold, R., Mathers, A., Nettle, D., … Johnson, M. T. (2023). What role do young people believe Universal Basic Income can play in supporting their mental health? Journal of Youth Studies, 28(1), 175–194.
In preparation
Morrison, J., van den Bergh, J., & Kallis, G. (2026). Wealth inequality undermines international climate action: Panel evidence from 49 countries, under review
Morrison, J., van den Bergh, J., & Kallis, G. (2026). The political economy of green industrial policy: comparing the battery policies of five economies, draft stage
Selected policy reports
Johnson, E. A., Villadsen, A., Parra Mujica, F., Webster, H., Thorold, R., Morrison, J., … Johnson, M. T. (2022). Challenging the mental health crisis: How Universal Basic Income can address youth anxiety and depression. RSA and Northumbria University.
Jooshandeh, J., Webster, H., & Morrison, J. (2022). Social security: The risks from automation and economic insecurity for England's social renters. RSA.
Webster, H., & Morrison, J. (2021). Economic security and long-term conditions. RSA.
Shallowe, A., Szymczyk, A., Firebrace, E., Burbidge, I. & Morrison, J. (2020). 'A Stitch in Time: Realising the value of futures and foresight'. RSA and Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Professional Experience
(2019–2022) Coordinator and researcher, Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, London. Conducted quantitative research, mostly using the UK Household Longitudinal Study, and qualitative research including semi-structured interviews with academics, policymakers and people with lived experience. Designed and ran workshops with a range of audiences. Drafted policy reports based on this research and helped in dissemination to key stakeholders.
Conferences & Workshops
(2025) 18th Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (University of Oslo). Morrison, J. & Hansen, O.W. 'From polluter elites to carbon elites: Expanding the scope of carbon inequality.' Oral presentation.
(2025) REAL: A Post-Growth Deal ERC project (Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona). 'Green industrial policy.' Seminar presentation to Policies group.
(2024) Big Problems, New Solutions workshop (SOAS, London). Morrison, J., van den Bergh, J., & Kallis, G. 'Wealth inequality and climate/environmental policy stringency.' Poster presentation.
(2024) Annual Conference of the European Association of Evolutionary Political Economy (EHU, Bilbao). 'The effect of domestic wealth inequality on environmental policy.' Oral presentation.
(2024) 15th Conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics (Universidad de Vigo). 'The effect of domestic wealth inequality on environmental policy.' Oral presentation.
(2024) Climate vs Growth 2024 (Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona). Organiser and moderator of policy debate: 'Los efectos sociales y medioambientales del plan piloto de la Renta Básica Universal en Catalunya'. Also poster presentation on wealth inequality and climate policy.
(2022) Understanding Society People and Places conference (online). 'Economic security and multiple long-term conditions: exploring the impact of diagnosis on income growth.' Oral presentation.
Teaching
(2025) University of Barcelona. Invited lectures on 'Green industrial policy' for the course Sustainable Development: Ecology, Economy, and Society. April and November 2025.
(2025) Master thesis supervision. Supervision of master thesis 'Assessing the climate impact of a wealth tax' by Janna Vandenberk (with Dr. Lewis King). Awarded grade 9.0/10.
Awards
(2025) Antipode 'Right to the discipline' grant (£10,000). Project: 'Cuerpo-Territoriality of Alternative Water Infrastructures: Critical Cartographies of Women's Resistances to Urban Water Financialisation in Mexico City' (PIs: Grace Wright-Arora and Paula Soto Villagrán).
(2022) FPI Scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the María de Maeztu Units of Excellence Programme. Fully funded doctoral study at ICTA-UAB.