James is a Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute and has worked at the Fraser of Allander Institute since 2016. 

James' areas of expertise include the novel creation and use of economic data, economic statistics, National Accounts, economic policy and input output modelling. He applies these skills to several themes, with particular emphasis on the net zero economy and trade.

He is regarded as an expert in his research areas. He is a member of an informal OECD Expert Group on Subnational Supply-Use and Input-Output Tables, the Scottish Government Input-Output Expert Users Group and a researcher at the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence and the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy.

He leads the Fraser of Allander Institute’s themes of climate change and trade and leads on input-output modelling, a cornerstone of economic modelling. He has been invited to speak on climate change governance at different Parliamentary Committees several times, joined the Scottish Government’s Trade Delegation to the EU and the UK-US Dialogue on the Future of Atlantic Trade.

His current research focus is exploring the impact of trade on different groups in society to understand the “winners” and “losers” from trade, and improving measurement of the net zero economy to support the transition.