DrSergey Alexeev

FMH Centres and Institutes；NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre

Research Impact: I am a researcher interested in experimental and quasi-experimental methodologies, with a proven track record in advancing causal inference across economics, public health, and social policy. My work, published in top-tier journals like Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization [1] (see references list at the end), Journal of Law and Economics [2], and International Journal of Nursing Studies [4], demonstrates expertise in robust statistical design and evaluation, including innovative trials and quasi-experimental techniques. I also serve on the International Journal of Drug Policy editorial board. My contributions have gained extensive national media coverage, including major outlets such as 7News Melbourne, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and numerous smaller publications, enhancing public discourse and policy debates.

Practice Translation: In [1], I used a robust quasi-experimental design (Judge instrumental variable) on NSW administrative data to show that fines for drug crimes are ineffective. This research has helped address issues of fine default by influencing key policy changes, including the NSW Work and Development Order (Section 99B, NSW Fines Act 1996), provisions for official cautions over penalty notices (Section 19A), and more flexible fine payment arrangements (Section 100). Overall, it has contributed to the expansion of rehabilitation-based alternatives to incarceration, supporting programs like MERIT in NSW. Additionally, [1] underpinned the HOPE project (see Section B4), shaping Australian Government policy on reducing imprisonment rates through insights from econometricians, criminologists, and public health specialists. In [2], I developed a triple-difference quasi-experimental design to provide the most comprehensive empirical evidence on Australia's 2001 heroin shortage, highlighting the benefits of drug law enforcement and laying a foundation for future policy change. My analysis of Melbourne's new injection site [6] has fueled public debate on their future in Australia, gaining coverage in 7News (including an interview), The Sydney Morning Herald, and Brisbane Times, and being cited in an Irish Government policy brief. Beyond my quasi-experimental work, I led the analysis of a large multi-site randomised trial [4], pioneering a methodological approach that is transforming nursing practices in Australian ICUs.

Public Debate: My research has contributed to significant public discussions on policy reform, influencing debates on taxation, drug policy, and economic development. For example, my study [7] on Australia's ready-to-drink beverage tax, featured in Austaxpolicy, challenged assumptions about its effectiveness in reducing adolescent drinking, prompting discussions on alternative measures like a minimum floor price on alcohol. Research [10], covered by The Guardian and Forbes, has informed the debate on drug reform, emphasising how changing public attitudes can create opportunities for harm reduction strategies that might otherwise face political resistance. Similarly, my study [5] critically reassesses a widely cited U.S. paper on naloxone effects, offering more robust estimates that strengthen the evidence base for future drug policy discussions. As a high-quality replication study, it also underscores my expertise in data integrity and methodological rigor-central to this proposal. Additionally, my work [8] on Australia's housing crisis, featured in VoxEU, Austaxpolicy, and The Conversation, and my research [9] on economic development during transition, highlighted by LSE's EUROPP, have shaped discussions on these pressing issues. The coverage of my research in these outlets reflects its relevance and impact in informing both academic and public discourse.

Unique Skillset: I am an expert in blending quasi-experimental and experimental methodologies, a rare skill set bridging disciplinary silos that often limit crossover due to career incentives and institutional barriers. Quasi-experimental methods identify causal effects without randomisation, uniquely handling messy data sets and settings-such as administrative data-complementing experimental approaches that rely on controlled trials, together addressing gaps in causal inference. My career across economics, criminology, and health exposed this divide, fueling my policy-driven research. Currently, I lead a team, including HDR student Alex Gallagher, developing Bayesian adaptive trials-pushing trial design frontiers. This builds on my CARE protocol [3], merging quasi-experimental rigor with experimental innovation [3, 4], uniquely equipping me for this proposal's integration of methodologies, delivering transformative advancements in experimentation methods.

Scholarships and Grants: My diverse academic background, with degrees from top institutions-the University of Paris Dauphine (France), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), York University (Canada), and the University of Technology Sydney-uniquely equips me to foster global collaboration for this project. My education was fully funded by prestigious scholarships, including the Ross Milbourne Research Scholarship in Economics (2015), York Graduate Scholarship for Academic Excellence (2013), York International Tuition Fee Scholarship (2013), UTS Top Up Scholarship (2015), APR Intern Scholarship (2019), International Research Scholarship (2015), GSOM stipend for studying abroad (2008), and Best Second-Year Research Paper at GSOM (2006), totalling an approximate of AUD 150,000. In 2024, I also secured AUD 500,000 in partnership funding from the NSW Department of Community and Justice for economic analysis of incarceration policies using large linked administrative datasets. These competitive scholarships and grants underscore my research excellence and ability to secure substantial funding for high-impact projects.

Ten Career-Best Research Outputs

[1] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2022)Fines for illicit drug use do not prevent future crime: Evidence from randomly assigned judges.Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 200, 555-575. DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.06.015

Annotation: Quasi-experimental study informing policy & HOPE study. Altmetric: Top 25%; 1 policy paper.

[2] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2025)Dual-edged benefits of drug policing: A quarter century's lesson from a heroin drought.The Journal of Law and Economics [Accepted 22 Feb 2025]. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14962743

Annotation: Recent study on drug prevention effects. Shows productivity, causal inference rigor, & quasi-experimental integration.

[3] Alexeev, S. & Morton, R. (2025)Cluster trials inference with CARE.Research Square [Preprint]. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5681319/v1

Annotation: Recent study showing quasi-experimental and experimental integration.

[4] Douglas, C., Alexeev, S., et al. (2024)Transforming nursing assessment in acute hospitals: A cluster randomised controlled trial (ENCORE trial).International Journal of Nursing Studies, 151, 104690. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104690

Annotation: Large-scale trial. Shows experimental methods excellence. Altmetric: Top 5%; 4 news; 33 X posts.

[5] Alexeev, S. (2025)A closer look at Doleac and Mukherjee (2022) and effects of naloxone access laws on opioid ER admissions.Economic Inquiry [Accepted 17 Jan 2025]. DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13277

Annotation: Critique of naloxone study. Shows data integrity & methods rigor.

[6] Liang, J. & Alexeev, S. (2023)Harm reduction or amplification? The adverse impact of a supervised injection room on housing prices.Regional Science and Urban Economics, 98, 103856. DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2022.103856

Annotation: Injection sites' impact. Translation & method integration. Altmetric: Top 5%; media coverage; 1 policy; GS: 9 citations.

[7] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2021)The Australian ready-to-drink beverages tax missed its target age group.International Journal of Drug Policy, 95, 103399. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103399

Annotation: Evaluates alcohol tax inefficacy. Supports practice translation & quasi-experimental integration. GS: 6 citations; Mendeley: 31.

[8] Alexeev, S. (2020)The role of imputed rents in intergenerational income mobility in three countries.Journal of Housing Economics, 49, 101710. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2020.101710

Annotation: Cross-country housing study sparking policy debate. Shows translation. Altmetric: Top 5%; 5 news; 31 X posts; GS: 11 citations.

[9] Alexeev, S. (2022) Technical change and wage premiums amongst skilled labour: Evidence from the economic transition.Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, 31(1), 189-216. DOI: 10.1111/ecot.12330

Annotation: Wage study in development. Shows methodological versatility. Altmetric: 1 blog; GS: 5 citations.

[10] Weatherburn, D., Alexeev, S., & Livingston, M. (2021)Changes in and correlates of Australian public attitudes toward illicit drug use.Drug and Alcohol Review, 41(5), 1029-1040. DOI: 10.1111/dar.13426

Annotation: Drug attitudes analysis. Shows understanding of policy feasibility. Altmetric: Top 5%; 4 news; 33 X posts; GS: 12 citations.