International rugby star and distinguished economist to be honoured by University of Leicester

Former Tigers Captain and current England Team Manager Martin Johnson, CBE, is to be honoured by the University of Leicester, along with Leicester graduate, now Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Western Ontario, Michael Parkin.

In two ceremonies at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Friday 22nd January 2010, Martin Johnson will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, and Professor Michael Parkin the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

They will be presented with their degrees in front of hundreds of graduands and their families from across the world.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Robert Burgess commented: “Graduation is a time when we celebrate achievement across the University, and it is fitting that we do this in the presence of two people who are so highly acclaimed in their own fields.

“The University of Leicester is a top university with world-class teaching and research that also works hard at, and succeeds in, providing the kind of student-centred environment that satisfies the needs of students from all backgrounds.”
Martin Johnson said: “Thank you for the honour of the ‘Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws’. The fact that it’s coming from the University of Leicester, the same city where I spent so many enjoyable years playing for Leicester Tigers, adds something very special to the occasion.

“I live locally and while I have had the privilege of playing and travelling to many parts of the world this area means the most to me and in receiving the degree I do so on behalf of my family, friends and everyone I’ve come into contact with in the game of rugby over the last twenty years.”

Professor Michael Parkin added: “I was an undergraduate at the University of Leicester from 1960 to 1963 and a Lecturer in 1965 and 1966. It was an enormous privilege to be in this academically rich and stimulating environment.
“My teachers and later my colleagues at the University of Leicester were outstanding and inspiring and helped launch me on my career. I feel greatly privileged to be honoured with this degree.”

Notes to Editors:

Martin Johnson, CBE, is to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Leicester at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Friday 22nd January 2010 at 1pm.

Martin Johnson was appointed in April last year as England Team Manager. He had enjoyed a glittering career as a lock, winning 84 England caps, leading his country in 39 matches, of which 34 produced victories, and becoming the first England captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup as 2003 RWC winners.

He is also the only player to lead the Lions on two separate tours, on the triumphant trip to South Africa in 1997 and to Australia in 2001, having already been to New Zealand with the 1993 squad.
 

He won honours for England Schools while studying at Robert Smyth Upper, Market Harborough and made his Leicester Tigers' debut in 1989 before moving to New Zealand, spending a season there and playing for New Zealand Colts.

On his return, he represented England Under-21s and England B before making an impressive Test debut in the 16-15 win over France at Twickenham in January 1993. A member of the 1995 RWC squad, he became Tigers' captain and first led England in 1999.

Professor Michael Parkin is to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Leicester at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Friday 22nd January 2010 at 4pm.

Michael Parkin first studied economics at the University of Leicester (1960-1963). He joined the economics faculty at the University of Western Ontario in 1975 where he is now Professor Emeritus.

Professor Parkin began his academic career in 1963 and held successive appointments at the Universities of Sheffield, Leicester, Essex, and Manchester. He has held visiting appointments at Brown University and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in the United States, Bond University and the University of New South Wales in Australia, Canterbury University, New Zealand, Osmania University, India, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the Bank of Japan.

He is a past president of the Canadian Economics Association and has served on the editorial boards of the Review of Economic Studies, the American Economic Review and the Journal of Monetary Economics and as managing editor of the Canadian Journal of Economics and the Manchester School.

Professor Parkin’s research on macroeconomics, monetary economics, and international finance has resulted in over 160 publications in journals and edited volumes, including the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, the Review of Economic Studies, Economica, the Journal of Monetary Economics, and the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking.

He is the author of Economics and Foundations of Economics, two best-selling introductory textbooks that are published in dozens of editions and languages around the world.

Professor Parkin’s earliest research was on the links between macroeconomic performance and financial institutions, a topic that returned to centre stage in the global financial crisis. He also showed that prices and incomes policies fail to control inflation and bring adverse side effects; that central bank independence delivers better inflation and business cycle outcomes; and that currency union (such as the Eurozone) brings large benefits.