About

I joined the University of Derby as a Lecturer in Economics in 2018.  Prior to this, I accumulated extensive academic experience, gained through research, and taught various subjects related to economics and econometrics at the UK HEIs (Queen Mary University of London, Middlesex University in London), and prestigious universities in Pakistan.

Currently, I have the privilege of leading the Applied Economics and Evaluation Cluster at the University of Derby. Additionally, I am honoured to serve as the Programme Leader for MSc International Business and Human Resource Management, and I am grateful to be recognized as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

I am an applied economist with a passion for economic progress, social policy, and the labour market. My research has delved into various topics, including the significance of human capital in fostering growth, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets, and the implications of fracking on public health. I have disseminated my research findings at multiple conferences across England, Scotland, and the USA.

Research interests

• Gender Gaps in Labour markets  
• Role of human capital in promoting productivity and economic growth
• Drivers of productivity, innovation and economic growth
• Institutions, productivity and economic growth
• Corporate governance and firm's performance

Recent publications

• Apergis, N., Mustafa, G. and Malik, S. (2023). The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in US market volatility: Evidence from the VIX index. Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2023.03.004
• Apergis, N., Mustafa, G. and Malik, S. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic, stock returns, and volatility: the role of the vaccination program in Canada
• Apergis, N., Mustafa, G., & Khan, M. (2021). Governance thresholds and the human capital–growth nexus. Journal of Economic Studies
• Apergis, N., Mustafa, G., & Dastidar, S. G. (2021). An analysis of the impact of unconventional oil and gas activities on public health: New evidence across Oklahoma counties. Energy Economics, 1-14
• Apergis, N., Dastidar, S. G., & Mustafa, G. (2020). Fracking and Asset Prices: The Role of Health Indicators for House Prices Across Oklahoma’s Counties. Social Indicators Research, 1-20
• Lenkei, B., Mustafa, G., & Vecchi, M. (2018). Growth in emerging economies: Is there a role for education?. Economic Modelling, 73, 240-253
• Mustafa, G., Rizov, M., & Kernohan, D. (2017). Growth, human development, and trade: The Asian experience. Economic Modelling, 61, 93-101

Membership of professional bodies

•  Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (November 2020 - today)
•  Scottish Economic Society (2021-2022)

Professional interests

Cluster Lead, Applied Economics and Enterprise 

Since 2018, I've had the pleasure of organizing seminar series for the Applied Economics and Evaluation Cluster. These seminars serve as a vibrant platform to spotlight the cluster's ongoing research, within the dynamic framework of the University of Derby Economic Observatory. Over the years, our series has managed to attract internationally recognized experts who've eagerly presented and engaged in discussions about their cutting-edge research. Distinguished individuals affiliated with esteemed institutions like Politecnico di Torino- DIGEP in Italy, University of St Andrews in the UK, Universidad Loyola Andalucía in Spain, SKEMA Business School in Lille, France, City, University of London, and Kingston University have graced our series with their presence.

Research Projects:

I am co-leading the £2 million Green Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) assessment as an Impact Evaluation Consultant. The University of Derby is partnering with Derbyshire County Council to deliver a £2 million grant fund for businesses interested in developing and investing in green energy and carbon reduction schemes and individuals looking to retrain in the field of alternative energy. The programme is a capital and revenue fund open to organisations and individuals based in Derbyshire. 

URSS (Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme) - 2019 

Determinants of innovation in SMEs: An empirical analysis of the East Midlands

Qualifications

• PhD, Economics. Middlesex University, London, UK.
• MSc, Research Methods for Business and Management. Middlesex University, London, UK.
• MSc, Economics. Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 

I have won a number of scholarships during my studies for excellent academic performance.

Recent conferences

• 2022, Pandemic and fear: Are they colliding? Evidence from the VIX futures index and the role of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Finance and Accounting 2022 Annual Research Symposium, held online hosted by the School of Finance and Accounting, Westminster Business School, University of Westminster
• 2021, An analysis of the impact of unconventional oil and gas activities on public health: New evidence across Oklahoma counties, Scottish Economic Society Conference, held online hosted by the University of Glasgow
• 2019, Governance thresholds and human capital–growth nexus, third Development Economic Conference (DEC) conference, University of Lincoln, UK
• 2017, Governance thresholds and human capital–growth nexus, The Society for Institutional and Organizational Economics (SIOE) 2017 conference, New York, USA
• 2013, Human capital, governance and productivity in Asian economies, GPEN–CGR Annual Conference, Queen Mary University, London, UK
• 2013, The role of human capital accumulation in Productivity of Asian economies, Scottish Economic Society Conference, Perth Scotland
• 2011, Openness, economic growth, and human development: Evidence from South Asia, Economic and Social Data Services, International Annual Conference London, UK

Teaching responsibilities

Seeing my students succeed brings me so much happiness and pride!

Currently, I am supervising two research students (one pursuing a PhD and the other a DBA) and I’ve successfully supervised many MSc and MBA students to completion.

I genuinely love creating a friendly, student-centred learning experience through my teaching. I am deeply committed to fostering applied learning that seamlessly integrates data, theory, business reports, and research including my own published papers. 

I place a strong emphasis on data analysis and econometric skills. I facilitate econometric analysis and report writing through hands-on experience, using the STATA and EXCEL, and utilizing real-time data (e.g., Bloomberg). My students regularly engage with ESG data to assess the impact of corporate governance on the financial performance of corporations. I bring modules to life through guest speaker sessions, showcasing their tangible relevance for employability and further studies including PhD.

Module Leader

• Econometrics - Level 6
• Corporate Governance – Level 6
• Data Analysis – Level 5