Professor Don Webber

FHEA BSc(Hons.) PG(Cert.)TLHE MA PhD

Management School

Head of Entrepreneurship, Strategy and International Business Subject Group

Chair in Managerial Economics

Don Webber
Profile picture of Don Webber
d.j.webber@sheffield.ac.uk
Sheffield University Management School

Full contact details

Professor Don Webber
Management School
Sheffield University Management School
Conduit Road
Sheffield
S10 1FL
Profile

Don Webber is a social scientist who is interested in all aspects of business performance and economic policymaking. As a professor of managerial economics, his current research focuses on how firms increase their value added, how environmental policy can affect economic growth, how Artificial Intelligence (AI) affects productivity, and how the productivity of academics is affected by their ecosystem.

Don's (with Gissell Huaccha), published in February 2024, is attracting a lot of readers. It is currently the sixth most read article in the journal's 47 year history. His books include: ; H; and . His fourth book, to be published later this year, is Developing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Place, Processes, People.

Don has written over 100 academic peer-reviewed articles and led or collaborated on 瞿2.3m of externally funded research. His work has been discussed at the United Nation's International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Welsh Government and elsewhere.

Don is very interested in supporting our next generation of academic researchers and working with them to achieve their potential, including PhD students. Prospective PhD students researching the above or closely connected topics are encouraged to contact him for further discussion. He is very open to quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research.

Don is also open to media approaches to discuss all aspects of firm productivity, academic productivity, economic growth, economic geography, tariffs, and austerity.
Research interests
  • Productivity
  • Health
  • Education
  • Regions
  • Heterodoxy
Publications

Books

  • Hughes E, Webber D & Parry G (2024) . Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Webber DJ (2021) How to enhance your research : 100 practical tips for academics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Edited books

  • (Ed.) (2025) . Emerald Publishing Limited.

Journal articles

  • Tubadji A, Burger M & Webber DJ (2025) . Social Indicators Research.
  • Allen DO & Webber DJ (2025) . Scottish Journal of Political Economy.
  • Webber DJ & Tiwasing P (2025) . Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research(20).
  • Bosworth G, Chapman P, Newbery R, Steiner A & Webber DJ (2025) . Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research(20).
  • Bosworth G, Chapman P, Newbery R, Steiner A, Webber DJ, Shortall S & Collins O (2025) . Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research, 20(3).
  • Bosworth G, Chapman P, Newbery R, Steiner A, Webber DJ, Salemink K, Chapman P & Townsend L (2025) . Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research, 20(34).
  • Bosworth G, Chapman P, Newbery R, Steiner A & Webber DJ (2025) . Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research, 20.
  • Chen Y, He M, Rudkin S & Webber DJ (2025) . Oxford Economic Papers, 77(3), 724-753.
  • Huang X, Liang Y & Webber D (2024) . Journal of International Management, 30(4).
  • Hutchison N, MacGregor B, Ngo T, Squires G & Webber DJ (2024) . Applied Economics, 57(23), 3127-3142.
  • Bowen R & Webber DJ (2024) . Journal of Rural Studies, 106.
  • Webber D & Huaccha G (2024) . Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, 47(1), 55-83.
  • Tubadji A, Wee R & Webber DJ (2023) . Journal of Economic Issues, 57(3), 735-759.
  • Tubadji A, Magnus G & Webber D (2023) . Journal of Economic Issues, 57(1), 1-7.
  • Tubadji A & Webber D (2023) . Journal of Economic Issues, 57(1), 153-171.
  • Tubadji A, Boy F & Webber DJ (2023) . Applied Research in Quality of Life, 18(1), 43-70.
  • Webber D, Hughes E, Pacheco G & Parry G (2022) . Region, 9(1), 147-163.
  • Webber D (2022) Should governments invest in cycle paths to encourage more cycling?. The Empirical Economics Letters, 21(6), 75-87.
  • Whitfield J, Svobodova P & Webber DJ (2022) . Event Management, 26(7), 1577-1590.
  • Squires G, Webber D, Trinh HH & Javed A (2022) . International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 15(3), 521-547.
  • Gardner M, Webber DJ, Parry G & Bradley P (2021) . Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 36(6), 524-540.
  • Tubadji A, Webber DJ & Boy F (2021) . Regional Science Policy & Practice, 13(S1), 198-216.
  • Tubadji A, Huang H & Webber DJ (2021) . Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173.
  • Tubadji A, Colwill T & Webber D (2021) . Regional Science Policy & Practice, 13(2), 247-277.
  • Webber D (2021) Conspicuous and inconspicuous discriminations in everyday life. ECONOMIC ISSUES, 26(2), 103-104.
  • Tubadji A, Denney T & Webber D (2021) . Economic Inquiry, 59(3), 1234-1251.
  • Webber D, Kitagawa F & Plumridge A (2020) Student entrepreneurial propensities in the individual-organisational-environmental nexus. Economic Issues, 25(1), 31-59.
  • Squires G & Webber DJ (2019) . Regional Studies, Regional Science, 6(1), 405-420.
  • Hughes T, Webber D & ORegan N (2019) . Studies in Higher Education, 44(4), 628-642.
  • Webber DJ, Jen MH & OLeary E (2019) . International Review of Applied Economics, 33(4), 523-541.
  • Ruziev K & Webber DJ (2019) . Post-Communist Economies, 31(2), 258-278.
  • Webber DJ, Healy A & Bristow G (2018) . Economic Geography, 94(4), 355-375.
  • Webber D & Shutt J (2018) . Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 33(1), 118-119.
  • Webber DJ, Webber GA, Berger S & Bradley P (2018) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 50(1), 157-174.
  • Daglish C, Webber DJ & Cutts D (2017) . Welsh Economic Review, 25, 42-50.
  • Pacheco G, van der Westhuizen DW, Ghobadian A, Webber DJ & O'Regan N (2016) . British Journal of Management, 27(3), 606-627.
  • Webber D & Pacheco G (2016) . International Journal of Social Economics, 43(3), 263-283.
  • DEVINS D, LODORFOS G, KOSTOPOULOS I & WEBBER DON (2016) . International Journal of Innovation Management, 20(02), 1650032-1650032.
  • Pacheco G & Webber D (2016) . Personnel Review, 45(1), 183-200.
  • Dawson C, Veliziotis M, Pacheco G & Webber DJ (2015) . Social Science & Medicine, 134, 50-58.
  • O'Leary E & Webber DJ (2015) . Regional Studies, 49(9), 1548-1560.
  • Hedges MR, Pacheco GA & Webber DJ (2014) . International Review of Economics Education, 17, 39-54.
  • Mearman A, Pacheco G, Webber D, Ivlevs A & Rahman T (2014) . International Review of Economics Education, 17, 120-136.
  • Hedges MR & Webber DJ (2014) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 19(3), 323-339.
  • Pacheco G, Page D & Webber DJ (2014) . Work, Employment and Society, 28(3), 407-429.
  • Cutts D, Webber D, Widdop P, Johnston R & Pattie C (2014) . Electoral Studies, 34, 216-231.
  • Whitfield J, Dioko LAN & Webber DE (2014) . Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(2), 299-318.
  • Whitfield J, Dioko LDAN, Webber D & Zhang L (2014) . International Journal of Tourism Research, 16(2), 169-179.
  • Patsiotis AG, Webber DJ & Hughes T (2013) . Journal of Financial Services Marketing, 18(4), 285-300.
  • Kumar S, Webber DJ & Fargher S (2013) . Journal of Policy Modeling, 35(6), 978-991.
  • Markey R, Ravenswood K, Webber DJ & Knudsen H (2013) . Journal of Industrial Relations, 55(4), 507-526.
  • G. Patsiotis A, Hughes T & J. Webber D (2013) . Journal of Services Marketing, 27(4), 294-311.
  • Kumar S & Webber DJ (2013) . Applied Economics, 45(8), 1011-1025.
  • Pacheco G & Webber DJ (2012) . New Zealand Economic Papers, 46(3), 189-190.
  • Webber DJ (2012) . Applied Economics Letters, 19(11), 1095-1099.
  • Van Der Westhuizen DW, Pacheco G & Webber DJ (2012) . The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(13), 2661-2679.
  • Curry N & Webber DJ (2012) . Regional Studies, 46(3), 279-291.
  • Webber DJ & Mearman A (2012) . Applied Economics, 44(9), 1121-1132.
  • Kumar S, Webber DJ & Fargher S (2012) . Applied Economics, 44(5), 607-616.
  • Kumar S, Webber DJ & Fargher S (2012) . Applied Economics, 44(5), 599-605.
  • Patsiotis AG, Hughes T & Webber DJ (2012) . International Journal of Bank Marketing, 30(1), 20-42.
  • Kumar S, Webber DJ & Perry G (2012) . Applied Economics, 44(23), 2945-2954.
  • Whitfield J & Webber DJ (2011) . International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(2), 439-447.
  • Mearman A, Wakeley T, Shoib G & Webber D (2011) . International Review of Economics Education, 10(2), 50-62.
  • Webber DJ, Johnson S & Fargher S (2010) . Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 25(4), 339-355.
  • Webber DJ & Allen DO (2010) . International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 17(3), 198-207.
  • Whitfield J & Webber DJ (2010) . Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 7(2), 163-178.
  • Allen DO & Webber DJ (2010) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 15(1), 33-47.
  • Cutts D & Webber DJ (2010) . Regional Studies, 44(6), 735-760.
  • Webber DJ & White P (2009) . Applied Economics Letters, 16(18), 1825-1829.
  • Webber DJ, Hudson J, Boddy M & Plumridge A (2009) . Papers in Regional Science, 88(3), 609-622.
  • Webber DJ (2009) . Applied Economics Letters, 16(13), 1375-1381.
  • Webber DJ & Mearman A (2009) . Applied Economics, 41(9), 1183-1190.
  • Thomas W & Webber DJ (2009) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 14(2), 119-141.
  • Webber D, Curry N & Plumridge A (2009) . Regional Studies, 43(5), 661-675.
  • PerloFreeman S & Webber DJ (2009) . The World Economy, 32(6), 965-994.
  • Devins D, Darlow A & Webber D (2008) . Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 23(1), 47-57.
  • Plumridge A, Webber DJ, Boddy M & Hudson J (2008) . International Journal of Business Performance Management, 10(4), 305-305.
  • Johnson S, Webber DJ & Thomas W (2007) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 39(8), 1981-1997.
  • Webber DJ & White P (2007) . Economics Letters, 94(3), 338-341.
  • Webber DJ & Freke M (2006) . The Journal of Socio-Economics, 35(5), 854-867.
  • Webber DJ & Walton F (2006) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 11(1), 65-84.
  • Webber DJ, White P & Allen DO (2005) . Journal of Regional Science, 45(3), 565-589.
  • Webber DJ (2005) . International Review of Economics Education, 4(1), 58-73.
  • Webber DJ (2004) . The Economic Journal, 114(499), F549-F551.
  • Webber DJ (2003) . The Economic Journal, 113(485), F201-F202.
  • Webber D & White P (2003) . Regional Studies, 37(8), 773-782.
  • Webber DJ (2003) . The Economic Journal, 113(488), F415-F416.
  • Thomas W, Webber DJ & Walton F (2003) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 8(2), 197-212.
  • Webber DJ (2002) . Applied Economics, 34(13), 1633-1643.
  • Webber DJ (2002) . The Economic Journal, 112(483), F599-F601.
  • Webber D (2002) . Innovations, 15(1), 151-151.
  • Webber DJ (2002) . The Economic Journal, 112(480), F377-F378.
  • Webber DJ & Gore T (2002) . Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 17(2), 96-110.
  • Webber DJ (2002) . Applied Economics, 34(3), 385-394.
  • Webber D (2002) . Progress in Development Studies, 2(1), 67-68.
  • Webber DJ (2001) . Applied Economics Letters, 8(11), 709-711.
  • Webber DJ (2001) . Applied Economics Letters, 8(5), 355-357.
  • Thomas W & Webber DJ (2001) . Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 6(3), 339-354.

Book chapters

  • Webber DJ & Pattinson S (2025) , Exploring Research Methodology and Research Design (pp. 55-66). Edward Elgar Publishing
  • Webber DJ & Tiwasing P (2025) , Rural Entrepreneurship: Harvesting Ideas and Sowing New Seeds (pp. 71-85). Emerald Publishing Limited
  • Webber DJ & Page D (2022) , Broadening the Scope of Wellbeing Science (pp. 121-135). Springer International Publishing
  • Webber D & Dymski G (2021) , Productivity and the Pandemic Edward Elgar Publishing
  • Devins D, Lodorfos G, Kostopoulos I & Webber D (2017) , Series on Technology Management (pp. 3-27). WORLD SCIENTIFIC (EUROPE)
  • Gore T & Webber DJ (2017) , European Governance Policy Making Between Politicization and Control (pp. 53-67).

Conference proceedings

  • Squires G & Webber DJ (2020) Fluctuating regional house price affordability and the irrelevance of mortgage rates. 2018 Joint Asia Pacific Network for Housing Research and Australasian Housing Researchers Conference Apnhr and Ahrc 2018 Proceedings (pp 135-152)

Preprints

  • Rudkin S, Webber D & Dlotko P () .
Research group

Entrepreneurship, Strategy and International Business

Grants
  • (2016 - 2018) Welsh Government Understanding productivity variations between England and Wales: A Reassessment with Anthony Plumridge and Michael Horswell)
  • (2015 - 2016) Welsh Government Understanding productivity variations between England and Wales (with Anthony Plumridge and Michael Horswell)
  • (2014 - 2016) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Bristol and Bath by Design (with Hoskins, S., C. McMahon, A. Noonan, G. Parry, G. Morton and A. Taylor) http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/30375/1/2016%20BBxD_FinalReport_.pdf
  • (2012 - 2014) Joseph Rowntree Foundation 'How can employment and skills policy or practice reduce poverty? (with Page, D., Veliziotis, M. and Johnson, S.) http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/does-poor-health-affect-employment-transitions
Teaching interests

I believe in research-led teaching and incorporate this into my teaching practice through, for example, the use of contemporary case studies and findings from my own research.

PhD supervision

Prospective PhD students who wish to study productivity (very broadly defined), health, education and/or geographically-related issues are encouraged to contact Don for further discussion. He is very open to qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research.

Professor Don Webber supervises:

Fajrin Muttaqin

Doctoral Researcher (Entrepreneurship, Strategy and International Business)
Management School

Thesis title: Social Enterprise Failure: Understanding Causes and Learning Opportunities
Email
fymuttaqin1@sheffield.ac.uk
Fajrin Muttaqin
Profile picture of Fajrin Muttaqin

Quanbo Qi

Doctoral Researcher (Entrepreneurship, Strategy and International Business)
Management School

Thesis title: The Impact of Workplace Discrimination on Entrepreneurial Intentions: The Mediating Role of Well-being
Email
qqi10@sheffield.ac.uk
Quanbo Qi
Profile picture of Quanbo Qi

He has previously supervised:

NameThesis titleYear of completion
Alex RickettsAn investigation into South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's use of social media for community disaster resilience2025
Laura BennettUnderstanding the mechanisms of entrepreneurial ecosystems: An examination of place, processes, people, and perspectives.2023

Are you interested in applying for a PhD?

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