Dr Carl Singleton has been a Senior Lecturer in the Economics Division since 2024, having previously worked at the University of Reading and before that at The University of Edinburgh, where he completed his PhD in 2017.
Carl's research mainly focuses on Macroeconomics and Labour Economics, with particular interests in business cycles, wage determination, and inequality issues. He also does work in Sports Economics.
Carl has published 32 peer-reviewed articles, including in the 'world's elite' journals according to the Association of Business Schools' rankings: Management Science (ABS 4*), Industrial Relations (ABS 4), British Journal of Industrial Relations (ABS 4), Review of Economic Dynamics, European Economic Review, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Economic Inquiry, Economics Letters, International Journal of Forecasting.
Carl is also working on some UK Research & Innovation (Economic and Social Research Council) funded projects.
Best Paper Published in the Scottish Journal of Political Economy in 2020
Scottish Economic Society
Best paper prize for the Scottish Journal of Political Economy in 2020, awarded at Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference. Paper was titled: "Recent Changes in British wage Inequality: Evidence from Large Firms and Occupations" -- https://doi.org/10.1111/sjpe.12225
IZA Research Fellow
IZA - Institute for the Study of Labor
Appointed Research Fellow of IZA - Institute of Labor Economics
Winner of 2025 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Research Paper Competition
The MIT Sloan conference is globally recognized as the premier sport analytics event, attracting thousands of research submissions annually. Only seven papers advance to the final competition, where authors present their work before a panel of judges. The winning paper was titled: "Do Behavioral Considerations Cloud Penalty-Kick Location Optimization in Professional Soccer: Game Theory & Empirical Testing using Polynomial Regression and ML Gradient Boosting"
External Examiner for University of Middlesex
Fellow of Higher Education Academy
Creating research-ready data by linking Census data to ASHE - WED4
PI: Dr Carl Singleton
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
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Wage And Employment Dynamics - Phase 3 - WED3
PI: Dr Carl Singleton
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
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Wage and Employment Dynamics - Phase 2 - WED2
PI: Dr Carl Singleton
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
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Article
Cristiano of Arabia: Did Ronaldo increase Saudi Pro League attendances?
Schreyer D & Singleton C (2025) Cristiano of Arabia: Did Ronaldo increase Saudi Pro League attendances?. Contemporary Economic Policy, 43 (2), pp. 260-270. https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12661
Editorial
Editorial: Sports, economics, and natural experiments: advances and retrospection
Flepp R, Gauriot R & Singleton C (2025) Editorial: Sports, economics, and natural experiments: advances and retrospection. Frontiers in Behavioral Economics. https://doi.org/10.3389/frbhe.2024.1547739
Do Behavioral Considerations Cloud Penalty-Kick Location Optimization in Professional Soccer?
Uribe A, Sanders S, Ehrlich J, Reade JJ & Singleton C (2025) Do Behavioral Considerations Cloud Penalty-Kick Location Optimization in Professional Soccer?. In: MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 07.03.2025-08.03.2025. Cambridge, Massachusetts. https://www.sloansportsconference.com/research-papers/do-behavioral-considerations-cloud-penalty-kick-location-optimization-in-professional-soccer-game-theory-empirical-testing-using-polynomial-regression-and-ml-gradient-boosting
Research Report
Data Insight: How many jobs, how much earned?
Scarfe R, Singleton C, Bryson A, Forth J, Phan V, Ritchie F & Whittard D (2025) Data Insight: How many jobs, how much earned?. Administrative Data Research UK (Economic and Social Research Council). https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/data-insight-how-many-jobs-how-much-earned/. https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/data-insight-how-many-jobs-how-much-earned/
Research Report
Data Insight: New evidence on gender pay gaps in Great Britain
Scarfe R, Singleton C, Bryson A, Forth J, Phan V, Ritchie F & Whittard D (2025) Data Insight: New evidence on gender pay gaps in Great Britain. Administrative Data Research UK (Economic and Social Research Council). https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/data-insight-new-evidence-on-gender-pay-gaps-in-great-britain/. https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/data-insight-new-evidence-on-gender-pay-gaps-in-great-britain/
Book Chapter
How big is home advantage at the Olympic Games?
Singleton C, Reade JJ, Rewilak J & Schreyer D (2024) How big is home advantage at the Olympic Games?. In: Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 88-103. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800885653.00014
Article
Scoring goals: The impact of English Premier League football teams on local university admissions
Singleton C, Bell AR, Chung A, Reade JJ & Urquhart A (2024) Scoring goals: The impact of English Premier League football teams on local university admissions. Economics letters, 244, Art. No.: 111957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111957
Article
Why wages don't fall in jobs with incomplete contracts
Fongoni M, Schaefer D & Singleton C (2024) Why wages don't fall in jobs with incomplete contracts. Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.02297
Article
Chowdhury S, Jewell S & Singleton C (2024) Can Awareness Reduce (and Reverse) Identity-driven Bias in Judgement? Evidence from International Cricket. Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organization, 226, Art. No.: 106697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106697
Newspaper / Magazine
What is the impact of a Premiership football team on local universities?
Singleton C (2024) What is the impact of a Premiership football team on local universities?. Economics Observatory. 15.08.2024. https://www.economicsobservatory.com/what-is-the-impact-of-a-premiership-football-team-on-local-universities
Article
The age‐wage‐productivity puzzle: Evidence from the careers of top earners
Scarfe R, Singleton C, Sunmoni A & Telemo P (2024) The age‐wage‐productivity puzzle: Evidence from the careers of top earners. Economic Inquiry, 62 (2), pp. 584-606. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.13191
Article
Chiyaba G & Singleton C (2024) Do natural resources and foreign direct investment tend to erode or support the development of national institutions?. World Economy, 47 (3), pp. 1117-1146. https://doi.org/10.1111/twec.13447
Article
The Iron Curtain and Referee Bias in International Football
Dagaev D, Paklina S, Reade JJ & Singleton C (2024) The Iron Curtain and Referee Bias in International Football. Journal of Sports Economics, 25 (1), pp. 126-151. https://doi.org/10.1177/15270025231206470
Article
The extent of downward nominal wage rigidity: New evidence from payroll data
Schaefer D & Singleton C (2023) The extent of downward nominal wage rigidity: New evidence from payroll data. Review of Economic Dynamics, 51, pp. 60-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.red.2022.11.006
Article
Singleton C, Reade JJ & Schreyer D (2023) A decade of violence and empty stadiums in Egypt: when does emotion from the terraces affect behaviour on the pitch?. Empirical Economics, 65 (3), pp. 1487-1507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-023-02383-0
Article
The perils of pre-filling: Lessons from the UK’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earning microdata
Whittard D, Ritchie F, Phan V, Bryson A, Forth J, Stokes L & Singleton C (2023) The perils of pre-filling: Lessons from the UK’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earning microdata. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 39 (3), pp. 661-677. https://doi.org/10.3233/sji-230013
Article
Betting on a buzz: Mispricing and inefficiency in online sportsbooks
Ramirez P, Reade JJ & Singleton C (2023) Betting on a buzz: Mispricing and inefficiency in online sportsbooks. International Journal of Forecasting, 39 (3), pp. 1413-1423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijforecast.2022.07.011
Research Report
How common is low pay in Britain and is it declining?
Forth J, Bryson A, Phan V, Ritchie F, Singleton C, Stokes L & Whittard D (2023) How common is low pay in Britain and is it declining?. Administrative Data Research UK. Data Insights. Swindon. https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/data-insight-how-common-is-low-pay-in-britain-and-is-it-declining/
Book Chapter
Economics lessons from sports during the COVID-19 pandemic
Singleton C, Bryson A, Dolton P, Reade J & Schreyer D (2022) Economics lessons from sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. In: Pedersen P (ed.) Research Handbook on Sport and COVID-19. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 9-18. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207576.00008
Article
Eliminating supportive crowds reduces referee bias
Reade JJ, Schreyer D & Singleton C (2022) Eliminating supportive crowds reduces referee bias. Economic Inquiry, 60 (3), pp. 1416-1436. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.13063
Newspaper / Magazine
Abramovich sanctions: what implications for Chelsea and the Premier League?
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2022) Abramovich sanctions: what implications for Chelsea and the Premier League?. Economics Observatory. 12.03.2022.
Article
Informational efficiency and behaviour within in-play prediction markets
Angelini G, De Angelis L & Singleton C (2022) Informational efficiency and behaviour within in-play prediction markets. International Journal of Forecasting, 38 (1), pp. 282-299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijforecast.2021.05.012
Book Chapter
IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET: RULES AND THE GENTLEMAN’S GAME
Jewell S, Reade J & Singleton C (2021) IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET: RULES AND THE GENTLEMAN’S GAME. In: Butler R (ed.) Advances in Sports Economics. Newcastle upon Tyne: Agenda Publishing, pp. 85-108. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv25tnx3v.11
Article
Stadium attendance demand during the COVID-19 crisis: early empirical evidence from Belarus
Reade JJ, Schreyer D & Singleton C (2021) Stadium attendance demand during the COVID-19 crisis: early empirical evidence from Belarus. Applied Economics Letters, 28 (18), pp. 1542-1547. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2020.1830933
Newspaper / Magazine
What can economics learn from cricket – and cricket from economics?
Singleton C & Jewell S (2021) What can economics learn from cricket – and cricket from economics?. Economics Observatory. 04.08.2021.
Newspaper / Magazine
Tokyo Olympics without crowds: will the home nation’s medal chances suffer?
Singleton C, Schreyer D & Rewilak J (2021) Tokyo Olympics without crowds: will the home nation’s medal chances suffer?. The Conversation. 19.07.2021.
Newspaper / Magazine
Krumer A, Reade J & Singleton C (2021) Is football coming home?. Economics Observatory. 11.06.2021.
Article
Evaluating strange forecasts: The curious case of football match scorelines
Reade JJ, Singleton C & Brown A (2021) Evaluating strange forecasts: The curious case of football match scorelines. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 68 (2), pp. 261-285. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjpe.12264
Article
Demand for public events in the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study of European football
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2021) Demand for public events in the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study of European football. European Sport Management Quarterly, 21 (3), pp. 391-405. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2020.1841261
Article
Causal effects of an absent crowd on performances and refereeing decisions during Covid-19
Bryson A, Dolton P, Reade JJ, Schreyer D & Singleton C (2021) Causal effects of an absent crowd on performances and refereeing decisions during Covid-19. Economics Letters, 198, Art. No.: 109664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109664
Article
Extreme Wages, Performance, and Superstars in a Market for Footballers
Scarfe R, Singleton C & Telemo P (2021) Extreme Wages, Performance, and Superstars in a Market for Footballers. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 60 (1), pp. 84-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.12270
Newspaper / Magazine
What we can learn about economics from professional sport during Covid-19
Singleton C, Schreyer D, Dolton P, Reade JJ & Bryson A (2021) What we can learn about economics from professional sport during Covid-19. VoxEU. 31.01.2021.
Book Chapter
European Football After COVID-19
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2020) European Football After COVID-19. In: Billio M & Varotto S (eds.) A New World Post COVID-19: Lessons for Business, the Finance Industry and Policy Makers. Venice: Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari. https://doi.org/10.30687/978-88-6969-442-4/028
Article
Going with your gut: The (In)accuracy of forecast revisions in a football score prediction game
Singleton C, Reade JJ & Brown A (2020) Going with your gut: The (In)accuracy of forecast revisions in a football score prediction game. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 89, Art. No.: 101502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2019.101502
Article
Do High Wage Footballers Play for High Wage Teams? The Case of Major League Soccer
Scarfe R, Singleton C & Telemo P (2020) Do High Wage Footballers Play for High Wage Teams? The Case of Major League Soccer. International Journal of Sport Finance, 15 (4), pp. 177-190. https://fitpublishing.com/articles/do-high-wage-footballers-play-high-wage-teams-case-major-league-soccer
Article
On why the gender employment gap in Britain has stalled since the early 1990s
Razzu G, Singleton C & Mitchell M (2020) On why the gender employment gap in Britain has stalled since the early 1990s. Industrial Relations Journal, 51 (6), pp. 476-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.12309
Newspaper / Magazine
How is professional football coping with coronavirus?
Dolton P, Reade JJ & Singleton C (2020) How is professional football coping with coronavirus?. 27.11.2020.
Article
Information, prices and efficiency in an online betting market
Elaad G, Reade JJ & Singleton C (2020) Information, prices and efficiency in an online betting market. Finance Research Letters, 35, Art. No.: 101291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2019.09.006
Newspaper / Magazine
Sport: what could be the long-term effects of coronavirus?
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2020) Sport: what could be the long-term effects of coronavirus?. Economics Observatory. 05.06.2020.
Newspaper / Magazine
As football returns in empty stadiums, four graphs show how home advantage disappears
Singleton C, Schreyer D & Reade JJ (2020) As football returns in empty stadiums, four graphs show how home advantage disappears. The Conversation. 15.05.2020.
Newspaper / Magazine
Bell A, Singleton C & Reade JJ (2020) In defence of footballers. The Conversation. 09.04.2020.
Article
Who Works for Whom and the UK Gender Pay Gap
Jewell SL, Razzu G & Singleton C (2020) Who Works for Whom and the UK Gender Pay Gap. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 58 (1), pp. 50-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjir.12497
Newspaper / Magazine
How will football return after this unplanned hiatus?
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2020) How will football return after this unplanned hiatus?. The Conversation. 27.03.2020.
Article
Betting markets for English Premier League results and scorelines: evaluating a forecasting model
Reade J, Singleton C & Vaughan Williams L (2020) Betting markets for English Premier League results and scorelines: evaluating a forecasting model. Economic Issues, 25 (1), pp. 87-106. https://www.economicissues.org.uk/Vol25.html#a4
Article
Recent Changes in British Wage Inequality: Evidence from Large Firms and Occupations
Schaefer D & Singleton C (2020) Recent Changes in British Wage Inequality: Evidence from Large Firms and Occupations. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 67 (1), pp. 100-125. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjpe.12225
Article
Cyclical labor costs within jobs
Schaefer D & Singleton C (2019) Cyclical labor costs within jobs. European Economic Review, 120, Art. No.: 103317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2019.103317
Newspaper / Magazine
Bury FC: the economics of an English football club’s collapse
Reade JJ & Singleton C (2019) Bury FC: the economics of an English football club’s collapse. The Conversation. 30.08.2019.
Article
Singleton C (2019) The public–private sector wage differential in the UK: Evidence from longitudinal employer–employee data. Economics Letters, 174, pp. 109-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2018.11.005
Website Content
Back to the future: The gig economy and underemployment
Lafuente C, Scarfe R & Singleton C (2018) Back to the future: The gig economy and underemployment. The Alan Turing Institute [Blog] 02.11.2018. https://www.turing.ac.uk/news/back-future-gig-economy-and-underemployment
Article
Segregation and Gender Gaps in the United Kingdom's Great Recession and Recovery
Razzu G & Singleton C (2018) Segregation and Gender Gaps in the United Kingdom's Great Recession and Recovery. Feminist Economics, 24 (4), pp. 31-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2018.1451907
Article
Unemployment and econometric learning
Schaefer D & Singleton C (2018) Unemployment and econometric learning. Research in Economics, 72 (2), pp. 277-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rie.2017.10.005
Article
Long‐Term Unemployment and the Great Recession: Evidence from UK Stocks and Flows
Singleton C (2018) Long‐Term Unemployment and the Great Recession: Evidence from UK Stocks and Flows. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 65 (2), pp. 105-126. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjpe.12139
Article
Gender and the business cycle: An analysis of labour markets in the US and UK
Razzu G & Singleton C (2016) Gender and the business cycle: An analysis of labour markets in the US and UK. Journal of Macroeconomics, 47 (Part B), pp. 131-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmacro.2015.12.006
Book Chapter
Razzu G & Singleton C (2014) The Macroeconomic Context. In: Razzue G (ed.) Gender Inequality in the Labour Market in the UK. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 35-51. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199686483.003.0002