Michael is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management Science and Engineering. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of New England, an MS in public health from the University of Arizona and an honours degree in economics from La Trobe University.
Michael has published over 125 works, including over 100 journal articles, and his research has appeared in leading journals such as Administration & Society, Economic Record, Local Government Studies, and Public Management Review. His work spans health economics, life satisfaction, public policy, and regional economics, strongly focusing on advancing local government and public administration knowledge.
Title: Economic Stress and Health
This project investigates how economic stress – specifically personal debt – shapes health across two countries. Using longitudinal data from Australia’s Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and the U.S. National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), we test whether debt and debt-related financial strain are linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and obesity, poorer self-reported health, and lower mental health (SF-36 mental health component score). We examine behavioural and stress-pathway mechanisms (e.g., reduced exercise, diet quality, sleep disruption, health care foregone) and assess whether associations persist over time after adjusting for age, sex, income, education, employment, household composition, and urban/rural residence. By leveraging repeated observations and cross-national comparisons, the study provides new evidence on the generalisability and potential causality of financial stress as a determinant of health. Findings aim to inform integrated policy responses – spanning consumer finance, social protection, and public health – that mitigate debt burden and improve population health.
I supervise projects at the intersection of health economics, applied econometrics, and large-scale health survey analysis. PhD candidates and holders with interests in healthcare analytics and management – especially those working with panel data and causal inference – are welcome to contact me to discuss potential topics. Please review the KU admissions page for details on application timelines and requirements.
