Dr Chris O'Leary

Who am I?

Chris is a political scientist with a specialism in public policy. He is responsible for managing a number of research projects, providing leadership on the design and delivery of research, policy analysis, and evaluation projects around public sector reform, and homelessness. He manages projects that involve multidisciplinary teams (often in collaboration with academics and practitioners within and outside PERU) and mixed methods research methods. His interest in homelessness dates back to 1994, and he has completed a number of applied research projects for government, charities, and local authorities around the effectiveness of different policy interventions in addressing homelessness. Chris is particularly interested in using evidence to inform policy and practice around preventing and reducing homelessness.
More widely, his interest in public policy and administration is around policy termination and policy failure, and his published research examines both in the UK context. He published research also critically evaluates public service motivation theory, and he draws on Public Choice and ideas of expressive rationality and bounded rationality in understanding public policy and public administration in his research. He regularly contributes to seminars organised by the Adam Smith Institute and the Institute for Economic Affairs, and received funding from the Institute for Humane Studies during his PhD research.
Before entering academia, Chris has a successful career in policy analysis and research and as a civil servant. Chris is a former Chair of Housing in an inner London borough, former non-executive director of a large housing association, and former non-executive director of a regeneration company.

How I’ll teach you

I teach a third year mini-module on rational choice theory which draws on case studies (voting behaviour, religious participation, and protest movements) to explore human agency, the role of norms in RCT, expressive and bounded rationality. I also teach the introduction to public administration module and the housing policy module on the Master's of Public Administration.

My teaching style is focused on knowledge, understanding, and critical evaluation. I use lots of small group work, heated debates, and problem-based teaching approaches.

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD in Public Policy from King's College, London (2015)

MSc in Public Policy from Queen Mary, University of London (2010)

BA in Law and Politics, Durham University (1991)

Why study Public policy making, public administration, rational choice theory, bounded rationality, Public Choice, partnering and commissioning, homelessness and housing?

Undergraduate courses

Third year module on rational choice theory as social theory.

Postgraduate teaching

I teach on the Masters in Public Admnistration on the Introduction to Public Administration and Economics for Public Policy. I also teach the Housing Policy optional module, which uses three case studies (homelessness, gentrification, and welfare reform and its housing impact. Through these case studies, I examine the relationship between policy and research, and between different areas of social policy.

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

I am lead supervisor for two PhD students who are researching homelessness. 

Research expertise

Chris is interested in the purpose, design, implementation and effect of public sector reform, particularly in two areas - partnering/commissioning and homelessness. 

Chris is fascinated with current debate around evidence-informed policy and how this sits with concepts of complex adaptive systems, knowledge problems and fundamental uncertainty. Chris is particularly interested in what this means for policy makers and the policy making process. His research interests include the political economy of public policy, particularly how economic models can be used to understand policy change and the policy process. Chris is particularly interested in Public Choice models of bureaucratic behaviour.

My other research interests include the policy process around the formation and development of professions and professions regulation. Developing a theory of professions as economic institutions. The impact of institutional design on rational actors in the policy process. The limits of rationality, bounded rationality and impact of fundamental uncertainty.Chris currently manages and delivers a number of projects, 

Academic collaborations

Chris leads Manchester Met's involvement in the Centre for Partnering, a major collaboration between the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford, Stirling University, Cardiff University, Northumbria University, and MMU. 

Publications

• Books (authored/edited/special issues)

  K. Albertson, C. Fox (2018). Payment by Results and Social Impact Bonds Outcome-based Payment Systems in the UK and US. Policy Press.

• Journal articles

  C. O'Leary, L. Teixeira, E. Coren, Z. Kiss, A. Roberts, et al. H. Amitage. (2022). PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 18(4), pp.e1290-e1290.

  C. O'Leary, A. Roberts, L. Teixeira, E. Coren (2022). PROTOCOL: The experiences of adults experiencing homelessness when accessing and using psychosocial interventions: A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 18(4), pp.e1289-e1289.

  G. Ecchia, C. O'Leary, L. Messori (2021). Ex-ante socio-economic impact assessment for a social science research infrastructure: The case of EuroCohort. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics. 92(3), pp.531-563.

  C. O'Leary (2013). The role of stable accommodation in reducing recidivism: what does the evidence tell us?. Safer Communities. 12(1), pp.5-12.

• Chapters in books

  C. O'Leary, C. Fox (2020). Commissioning and social determinants: evidence and opportunities. In: Local Authorities and the Social Determinants of Health. Policy Press,

  CP. O'Leary, J. Ozan, S. Baines, G. Bailey Troubled families in Greater Manchester. In: Implementing innovative social investment. Policy Press,

  C. O'Leary, D. MacDonald (2019). Procurement and commissioning in the non-profit sector. In: Innovation and Change in Non-profit Organizations Case Studies in Survival, Sustainability and Success. Pavilion Publishing and Media Limited,

  J. Ozan, C. O’leary, S. Baines, G. Bailey (2019). Troubled families in greater Manchester. In: Implementing Innovative Social Investment: Strategic Lessons from Europe. Policy Press, pp.43-57.

  C. O’Leary, C. Fox (2018). Understanding the Potential Policy Impact of a European Longitudinal Survey for Children and Young People. In: Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research. Springer International Publishing, pp.147-161.

• Conferences

  S. Baines, C. fox, K. Albertson, C. O'Leary, G. Bailey Social Impact Bonds and two meanings of "Social Investment". London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and RAND Europe, 12/9/2016.

• Reports

  CP. O'Leary, D. Hunter, S. Visram, L. Adams, R. Finn, et al. A. Forrest, J. Gosling. (2015). Interim report no. 2: Mapping the configuration and operation of Health and Wellbeing Boards across England. Durham University, National Institute for Health Research.

  CP. O'Leary, J. Linney, A. Weiss (2010). Understanding the financial benefits of local handypersons services. Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Communities and Local Government.

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

I have peer reviewed articles for several public administrayion, public management, and public policy journals.

Grants

Principal Investigator, Systematic review of abstinance versus harm reduction approaches to problematic substance use in adults experiencing homelessness (Centre for Homelessness Impact)

Co-Investigator, Right Sizing: reframing the older people's housing debate

Co-Investigator, Cosie (EU Horizon 2020 grant no. 770492)

Co-Investigator, European Cohort Development Programme (EU Horizon 2020 grant no. 777449)

Prinicipal Investigator on several applied research and evaluation projects for a range of UK government departments and charities.

Impact and influence on policy

My research on homelessness from the private rented sector was launched in Parliament at an event jointly hosted by the APPG Homelessness and APPG Universal Credit.

Media appearances or involvement

I regularly comment on homelessness and housing, and on commissioning of public services. My research on homelessness and welfare reform appeared in news reports in the Financial Times, Huffington Post, and The Sun. 

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

In 2020, I was an expert reviewer for the ESRC 'Governance after Brexit' grant application. I have previously been an expert adviser for the Marsden Fund in New Zealand around homelessness and people leaving prison.

Membership of professional associations

I am a member of the Political Studies Association and am involved in the Social Policy and Politics specialist group.