Matthew Oakley is Director of WPI Economics, a specialist economics and public policy consultancy. He is a respected economist and expert on welfare reform and the future of the welfare state.

Before founding WPI Economics Matthew had been Chief Economist and Head of Financial Services Policy at the consumer champion Which?, Head of Economics and Social Policy at the think tank Policy Exchange and an Economic Advisor at the Treasury. He has an MSc in Economics from University College London, where he specialised in microeconomics, labour markets, public policy and econometrics.

Alongside WPI, Matthew is also a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee and a Senior Researcher at the Social Market Foundation. He also led the Independent Review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions that reported to Parliament in 2014.