I hold a B.Comm. and a M.Econ.Sc. from University of Galway. In my teaching, I aspire to engage students with economics and economic concepts. I show how economics can explain and help solve many challenges facing society. I lecture on the BA (Child, Youth and Family Studies) programme, as well as delivering economics modules to Arts, postgrad and online students. I was based at St. Angela's College, Sligo, which was a college of NUI Galway, between 1998 and 2019, where I taught on the B.Ed. in Home Economics, Nursing and Access programmes. I am involved in research on local government economics with colleagues in University of Galway, and collaborators from other universities.

Since 2013 I have been involved in researching Local Government economics, with Dr. Gerard Turley, and internal and external collaborators. We have a website to display some of our research into the economics of local government: http://www.localauthorityfinances.com www.localauthorityfinances.com

My areas of research interest include Public finances, taxation and the welfare state.

Previous projects include asocio-economic analysis of regions of Ireland (2012) and anevaluation of Ballinasloe marina on behalf of Ballinasloe Town Council and Galway County Council (2013).

Stephen teaches on, and contributes to, a wide range of modules: macroeconomics, mathematical economics, general Public - No restriction policy, social policy and family policy.