Dr Chris Grocott

I am a Lecturer in Management and Economic History here at the University of Leicester School of Business.  My research specialises on the history of economic thought. I enjoy bringing complex ideas to the public in ways that make them easy to understand.  My book examining how ideas from mainstream economics have been used to limit progressive politics, 'The Ideas That Rule Us: How to Understand, Organise and Fight Against Bad Economics' was published by Routledge in October 2024.  The 'School of Life' YouTube videos on Hayek and Keynes which I scripted have a combined number of views totaling over 2 million and thousands of discussions and debates in their comments sections.

In addition to my work on the history of economic thought, my expertise on the history, economy and politics of Gibraltar has led to me giving evidence to the House of Lords EU select committee and to briefing officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I regularly appear in the media, both in the UK and globally, discussing issues surrounding all aspects of Gibraltar.

Before joining the School in April 2013, I had held appointments at Birmingham, De Montfort, and Lancaster universities. My research and teaching cross the disciplines of both management studies and history. In June 2015, I was awarded Chartered Manager status by the Chartered Management Institute, whilst in November 2015 I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In 2013 my teaching was recognised by the award of a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

My research focuses on the history of economic thought, from this perspective I have looked at the work of Friedrich Hayek; labour organisation in the British empire; and the history of British imperialism (generally, and with specific reference to Gibraltar).  In 2024 I published my book, The Ideas That Rule Us which examines the ways in which economic ideas manifest themselves in everyday life, affecting how we think of the economy and key issues facing society such as inequality and sustainability.

Monographs

Grocott, C. (2024). The Ideas That Rule Us: How to Understand, Organise and Fight Against Bad Economics.  (London: Routledge).

Grocott, C. & Stockey, J. (2012). Gibraltar: A Modern History.  (Cardiff: University of Wales Press).

Edited Collection

Grady, J. & Grocott, C. (eds.) (2019). The Continuing Imperialism of Free Trade: Developments, Trends, and the Role of Supranational Organisations.  (London: Routledge).

Articles

Grocott, C., Stockey, G, & Grady, J. (2018). 'Reformers and revolutionaries: the battle for the working classes in Gibraltar and its hinterland, 1902-1921', Labor History, Vol. 59 (6): 692-719.

Grocott, C., (2017). 'Friedrich Hayek's Fleeting Foray into 1940s Colonial Development', European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 24 (5): 1085-1106.

Grocott, C., Stockey, G, & Grady, J. (2015). 'Anarchy in the UK (Most Famous Fortress): Comradeship and Cupidity in Gibraltar and Neighbouring Spain 1890-1902', Labor History, 56 (4): 385-406.

Grocott, C. (2015). 'Compromising Liberty: Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom in Practice', Economy and Society, 44 (1): 140-164.

Grocott, C. & Grady, J. (2014). 'Naked Abroad - The Continuing Imperialism of Free Trade', Capital and Class, 38 (3): 541-562.

Godfrey, R., Brewis, J., Grady, J., & Grocott, C. (2014). 'The Private Security Industry and Neoliberal Imperialism: Mapping the Terrain', Organization, 21 (1): 106-125.

Grocott, C. (2009). 'A Fine Soldier but a Maligned Governor: General Sir Archibald Hunter, Governor of Gibraltar 1910-1913', Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 37 (3): 421-439.

Book Chapters

Grocott, C. (2021) ‘Introduction’, in, Silva, F, Cerdera, L. M., Stockey, G., Eade, D, Grocott, C. (2021). Red Ship and Red Tape (Foro por La Memoria del Campo de Gibraltar: Gibraltar): 9-20.

Grocott, C., Stockey, G., & Grady, J. (2019). ‘Cross Frontier Class Solidarities in Gibraltar and the Campo, 1880-1928 and Beyond’, in, Canessa, A. (ed.) (2019) Bordering on Britishness- National Identity in Gibraltar from the Spanish Civil War to Brexit. (London: Palgrave): 67-89.

Grocott C., & Grady, J. (2019) ‘Introduction – The Continuing Imperialism of Free Trade’, in, Grady, J. & Grocott, C. (eds.) (2019). The Continuing Imperialism of Free Trade: Developments, Trends, and the Role of Supranational Organisations. (London: Routledge).

Grocott, C. (2018) ‘On the Rock: Hayek’s 1944 Proposals for the Gibraltar Economy’, in, Leeson, R. (ed.) (2018). Hayek: A Collaborative Biography, Part XIII Fascism and Liberalism in the (Austrian) Classical Tradition. (London: Palgrave): 193-210.

Grocott, C. (2012), ‘British Identity and Constitutional Reform in Gibraltar’, in, J. Matthews, & D. Travers (eds.) (2012), Islands and Britishness: A Global Perspective. (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing): 149-161. 

Grocott, C. (2011), ‘Ideology’, in, S. Krossa (ed.) (2011.) Europe in a Global Context. (Hampshire: Palgrave): 38-49.

I welcome doctoral students whose academic interests are in the following areas:

• The history of economic thought.
• The formulation of economic policies in UK politics.
• The ideas, activities, and organisation of trade unions and other movements such as anarchism (both in the contemporary world and historically).
• The development of capitalism and the relationship between the state, labour, and capital.
• The British Empire; decolonisation and post-colonial society; imperialism.
• All aspects of the remaining UK overseas dependent territories, and in particular Gibraltar.

In the past I have supervised to completion: Dr. Thomas H. J. Norton, 2023, 'Gibraltar and the European Economic Community: A Political History of the Impact of European Integration in the Territory, 1957-1987'. (University of Nottingham).

My current PhD student is: Mr. Roy Clinton, 'The Free Port of Gibraltar: Security for British Trade to Spain and the Mediterranean 1784-1886'.

I have also acted as External Examiner for: Dr. Nick Sharman (2020), 'Britain and Spain: Free Trade, Protectionism and Britain's Informal Empire, 1830-1950'. (University of Nottingham).

At the moment, I teach on the BA (Hons) Business and Management programme, and am module leader for MN1014 Business, Economy and Society, MN2018 Management Theory and Debate, and MN3200 Dissertation. 

In the past at the University of Leicester I have taught:

Undergraduate: Foundations of Management; Introduction to Management for Accounting and Finance; HRM; Organisations in Economic Context; Managing Research.

Master's: Alternative Economies; Advanced HRM; Management Dissertation.

Diploma: Business Environment; Understanding Modern Capitalism.

Doctoral: Advanced skills training for doctoral students as part of Doctoral College training.

Prior to moving into the School of Business in 2013 I was employed in History departments, covering modern British history, modern European (particularly Spanish) history, and the history of imperialism.

I have been interviewed on TV, radio and in print and online publications on all aspects of British Gibraltar, including its history, culture, politics and the ongoing sovereignty dispute.

I also have worked extensively in popularising economic ideas and the history of economic thought.

Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
Chartered Manager accredited by the Chartered Management Institute
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy