Research areas

• Income contingent loan theory and applications
• Panel data econometrics
• Microsimulation modelling
• Superannuation and retirement income policy

Biography

Tim Higgins is Associate Dean (Research) in the College of Business and Economics, Associate Professor of Actuarial Studies, and a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

His research focuses on the theory and application of income-contingent loans (ICLs), with particular expertise in policy analysis, model development, and the costing of existing and proposed schemes. His work has advanced the design and evaluation of ICLs for financing higher education in Australia and internationally, while extending the framework to a broad range of public policy challenges, including paid parental leave, mature-age skills and training, domestic violence support, sustainable agriculture, and household electrification. 

Tim's broader research interests include stochastic modelling of earnings dynamics, demographic modelling, financial literacy and financial behaviour, and superannuation and retirement policy. His research has been supported by the Australian Research Council through Linkage Projects and by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia through an Academies Linkage Grant. His work has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Economics of Education Review and PLOS ONE, and has informed parliamentary inquiries, government policy, industry practice, and public debate through regular media engagement. He is co-editor and co-author of Income Contingent Loans: Theory, Practice and Prospects, alongside Professors Bruce Chapman and Joseph Stiglitz. In recognition of the policy impact of his work, he was jointly awarded the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Public Policy and Outreach in 2014.

Over more than two decades at ANU, Tim has taught across the actuarial studies curriculum, including Introduction to Actuarial Studies, Financial Mathematics, Life Contingencies, Actuarial Techniques, Risk Theory, Actuarial Control Cycle, Advanced General Insurance, Enterprise Risk Management, and Risk Modelling. He received the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005.

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Publications

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Grants

Rural Investment Corporation.  “Encouraging the uptake of climate smart farming practices and technologies” Chief Investigators: Tim Higgins, Bruce Chapman. Report 2019.

ARC Linkage Grant. “Innovative methods for higher education financing”. B Chapman, M Sinning, T Higgins, G Withers. Awarded 2011.

ARC Linkage Grant. “Expenditure needs and drawdown of retirement savings during later life: how important are demographic factors and financial resources?”. TJ O’Neill, P McDonald, MA Martin, J Temple, S Roberts, T Higgins. Awarded 2007.

ARC Learned Academies Linkage Grant (through Academy of Social Sciences of Australia). “New Social Policy Approaches for Sharing Risk”. Chief Investigators: Bruce Chapman, Glenn Withers, Tim Higgins. Awarded 2006.
 

Teaching

Current Teaching

STAT3037/8043 Life Contingencies

Previous Teaching

STAT3057/6057 Risk Modelling 1

STAT3035/8035 Risk Theory 

STAT2032/8046 Financial Mathematics

STAT3037/8043 Life Contingencies

STAT4031/8040 Actuarial Control Cycle Part A

STAT1031 Introduction to Actuarial Studies

STAT3038/8045 Actuarial Techniques

ACST8058 Advanced General Insurance

ACST8051 Special Topics in Actuarial Studies

ACST8061 Enterprise Risk Management 2