Everyone in the School of Economics was very saddened to hear of the recent death of our former colleague, Paul Mosley.
Paul was part of our school at the University of Sheffield for over 25 years, and enjoyed a long and successful career as a Professor of Economics with us, until his retirement in 2020, when he became an Emeritus Professor.
Paul was a very popular and generous teacher in the school, his lectures were enjoyed by generations of students who appreciated his ability to communicate what he needed to teach with great enthusiasm and passion for the subject. Paul always found time for students from first year undergraduates to MSc students and was often seen in his office discussing his lectures with groups of students, inspiring the next generation of economists. This made his modules in Development Economics, Development Finance and Economics History amongst the most popular in the school, students valuing the way in which his lectures told a story and related to the world around us.
He was also a very engaged PhD supervisor, with many students wanting to be supervised by him, and Paul, with typical generosity, agreeing to supervise as many as he could. It was a source of pride to him how many of his PhD students he set on the road to careers as academic or professional economists, and he always took great interest in following and where, possible supporting, their careers.
In terms of his research, he authored many books and articles, the majority of which dealt with the theme of economic development and the improvement of the economic position of those born into less fortunate circumstances, with the aim of poverty reduction being a recurring theme. His research was therefore characterised by a desire to help individuals and to improve their position in the world. This work took him around the world, particularly to countries in Africa and South America, both to inform his research, and to engage with policy-makers and stakeholders in those countries. His work also extended beyond economics, and Paul would value collaboration with researchers in, for example, politics, sociology and political economy. In this way, he was a true social scientist.
Since his retirement, Paul’s contribution to the day to day life of the school has been much missed, whether that was his knowledgeable contributions to seminars, his generosity with his time to help colleagues, his enthusiasm on the five-a-side football pitch, or the classical music to be heard coming from his office on some evenings. In particular, we miss his unbound cheerfulness and unfailing politeness. On receiving the sad news, one colleague noted ‘he always had a nice smile’, which is how we remember him.
We offer our sincere condolences to Paul’s family at this difficult time.
Professor Sarah Brown and Professor Steve McIntosh, School of Economics