High-flying economist is sacked by one of Australia’s most prestigious universities over relationship with a student – as he admits: ‘I made terrible mistakes’

One of Australia's most prominent economists has been fired from his well-paid university job after revealing he was dating a PhD student.

Dr. Chris Edmond was fired this week as professor of economics at the University of Melbourne, after more than a decade in the position.

An email from Professor Paul Koffman, the dean of the faculty of business and economics, informed staff that Dr Edmond had been dismissed for “serious misconduct” following an investigation into the relationship and his subsequent conduct.

The “disturbing news” came to light after the PhD student went public with allegations about Dr. Edmond, including that he persistently “intimidate” and “bullied” her over a period of 12 years.

“While I appreciate that this is disturbing news to hear, the University takes seriously its support of victims of serious misconduct and its expectations of staff regarding standards of conduct and compliance with University policies,” Dr. Koffman wrote.

Upon leaving college, Dr. Edmond attempted to clear his name with an email to staff detailing his version of events.

He agrees that he has made 'mistakes' and says that the relationship with the student first started when he was her supervisor thirteen years ago.

Dr. Edmond said their relationship had ended, but he continued to supervise the woman in a professional capacity “as was her wish.”

He said that while the woman was working on her doctorate, he sent her several emails that were “angry and unprofessional.”

“I made terrible mistakes and when I tried to deal with that mistake, I made even more mistakes,” he wrote in his email to staff.

The professor admitted that he had failed to declare a conflict of interest with the student several times.

The student labeled Dr. Edmond's version of events, however, as 'misleading'.

“My complaint described a systematic pattern of deliberate and persistent discrimination, harassment and bullying by exclusion that occurred over a period of 12 years after I completed my PhD and continued until this year,” she told the newspaper. Rear window column of the Australian Financial Review.

A spokesperson for the University of Melbourne said: 'We confirm that the University of Melbourne has terminated the employment of Professor Chris Edmond.

'This follows an independent investigation carried out this year which concluded that Professor Edmond was guilty of serious misconduct, contrary to university policy.

“The conduct under investigation was deliberate and persistent over a period of more than ten years, during which Professor Edmond denied the complainant professional opportunities.

'‌The University of Melbourne will not tolerate behavior that does not meet expected standards of professionalism. We thank the complainant for raising the matter and giving the university the opportunity to take action.”

In 2019, Dr. Edmond on an episode of 60 Minutes to discuss the impact of Covid lockdowns on the Australian economy.

Professor Paul Koffman, dean of the University of Melbourne's business and economics faculty (pictured), informed staff by email that Dr Edmond had been dismissed

Upon leaving college, Dr. Edmond (pictured on campus) attempted to clear his name with an email to staff detailing his version of events.

He told the program that Australia was in one of the strongest fiscal positions in the world and that economic progress had to be slow and measured.

“Australia as an economy in general has had very prudent fiscal policies for a generation. That has put us in a very, very good position to use these fiscal tools in the midst of an unprecedented crisis,” he told former host Sarah Abo.

'What we want to avoid is having to break the shutdown again and again.

“By letting things get out of hand because we were too impatient to get back to normal, in a sense it's taking longer to get back to normal because of that impatience.”

Dr. Edmond graduated with honors from the University of Queensland before obtaining a PhD in economics from the University of Florida in the United States.

He became professor of economics at the University of Melbourne in 2013, after working as an associate professor for several years.

Dr. Edmond (pictured during a Zoom lecture) became professor of economics at the University of Melbourne in 2013 and had held the position for ten years before being dismissed.

In April, Dr Edmond hosted then Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Michele Bullock during a panel on lessons learned about monetary policy during the pandemic.

In a biography on his personal website, Dr. Edmond that his main research interests are in macroeconomics, international economics and information economics. '

“Before coming to Melbourne, I was an assistant professor of economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University,” he writes.

'I received my PhD in economics from UCLA in 2004. I am a Fellow of the Econometric Society and Associate Editor of Econometrica.'

He mentions an undergraduate course in Introductory Macroeconomics and a PhD course in Macroeconomics that he currently teaches.

Ny Breaking Australia contacted Dr. Edmond for comments.