Reflections on women in economics and a PhD with ESCoE
From working as a chief statistical specialist at the Income and Employment Statistics Division of the Philippine Statistics Authority to her ESCoE PhD at King’s College London, Mechelle is no stranger to the world of economic measurement. We caught up with her after the publication of her new ESCoE technical report on public sector productivity and ahead of International Women’s Day 2025.
Tell me about your PhD and how it links with ESCoE’s work.
My PhD focuses on developing labour market tables for the UK by leveraging large-scale, novel datasets, combined with advanced methodologies. The research is structured around the four key components of labour market tables: jobs, people, volumes, and payments, with a particular emphasis on improving the estimation of hours worked. Accurately measuring work hours remains a challenge due to discrepancies between firm-based data (e.g., business surveys) and individual-based data (e.g., the Labour Force Survey, LFS). This study aims to refine LFS work-hour estimates by calibrating them with insights from time use data—an approach that has been underexplored due to the lack of a unified data source integrating these variables. The enhanced labour market tables will contribute to more precise productivity measurement and align with ESCoE’s broader research on labour markets and productivity.
Tell me about your new report on public sector productivity
Our recent report explores how public sector productivity is measured. This remains challenging, as many government-provided goods and services are free or heavily subsidised. The report highlights key areas for improvement and emphasises the importance of incorporating quality-adjusted measures. The report also emphasises the need to have a clear mapping of service delivery chains to better understand institutional structures, budgets, inputs, outputs, and outcomes, helping to identify the key drivers of productivity.
Following on from this review, we will conduct a study to examine the productivity of the higher education (HE) sector. Although this is classified as non-profit institutions serving households, many of the measurement issues are similar to those of public services. The growing importance of higher education has led to an increased interest in the costs and returns of education and research. Yet, surprisingly, little research has been conducted to develop methods and insights for understanding and improving higher education productivity in its various forms, including teaching and research. This is largely because the inputs and outputs in the production process are difficult to define and quantify. Our study aims to develop a well-defined concept of productivity for higher education and to recommend productivity measurement.
International Women’s Day is this week. Economics has historically been a more male-dominated field. Tell me a bit about your experience as a woman working in this area.
Throughout my career, I have been lucky to receive the mentorship and support of inspiring female statisticians and economists in the government, academia, and international organisations. Their guidance was transformative, not only in honing my technical skills but also empowering me to confidently navigate and contribute to a field traditionally dominated by men. They also taught me how to push the boundaries of economic statistics research and policy.
Whilst I have been fortunate not to face significant obstacles in this field, I recognise that there are still ongoing challenges. These include the underrepresentation of women in leadership and the demands of balancing career and family. However, I’ve witnessed positive shifts. More women are entering the profession, and there’s a growing commitment to gender diversity, seen in mentorship initiatives, scholarship opportunities and inclusive research networks.
What do you think could be done to encourage more women to pursue careers in economics/economic measurement?
Encouraging more women to pursue and stay in economics requires early exposure to the field, highlighting its value and impact. Equal opportunities for career advancement and supportive, inclusive work environments are essential.
Promoting successful female role models in economics is also a crucial aspect. Women are now chief economists, chief statisticians and top leaders in economics. Through highlighting these examples, we can make it clear that this is a viable and rewarding career path for women.
Why is economic measurement important and how does it impact real-world decision-making?
Economic measurement is more than just numbers, methodologies, and indicators—it is a fundamental tool for informed decision-making that shapes economies and improves lives. It plays a crucial role in guiding inflation control measures, stabilising the economy to foster growth, helping businesses navigate economic cycles for strategic investments, and designing social policies such as welfare programmes and labour market interventions to reduce unemployment and social inequalities. Without accurate and reliable economic data, these decisions would rely on speculation rather than evidence, increasing the risk of economic instability and social disparities. Businesses would also face challenges in navigating economic cycles, leading to inefficient resource allocation and missed opportunities for growth.
What do you enjoy about working with ESCoE?
With over a decade working in economic statistics measurement, I am always excited to explore new advancements in the field, especially as data and measurement techniques continue to evolve. Being surrounded by leading economists, statisticians, and policymakers is inspiring and helps me refine and advance my own research ideas. I’m also appreciating the friendly and collaborative atmosphere at ESCoE.
Do you have any career plans for after you finish your PhD?
My experience in economic statistics research has highlighted significant opportunities for improvement – especially in the context of the data revolution and emerging measurement techniques. This has made me more motivated to contribute to this field. I’m excited about pushing forward economic measurement research for official statistics – coming up with insights and methods that can really make a difference for the statistical system, contribute to research and academic communities, and support the work of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
What would you say to another PhD student/early career researcher thinking of working with ESCoE?
If you’re a PhD student or early career researcher starting out in economic measurement, I highly recommend exploring opportunities to work with ESCoE. It’s a fantastic place to make real contributions to the field and help improve the quality of official statistics. You’ll get to work in a collaborative environment alongside experts from national statistical offices, research institutions, and academia—making a real difference for both society and the economy.
ESCoE blogs are published to further debate. Any views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and so cannot be taken to represent those of the ESCoE, its partner institutions or the Office for National Statistics.