# Robert Ackland

> Australian academic (economist/social scientist/computer scientist)

**Wikidata**: [Q116742536](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116742536)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/robert-ackland

## Summary
Robert Ackland (also known as R. Ackland, Rob Ackland, and Robert James Ackland) is an Australian academic whose work spans sociology, economics, and computer science. He is affiliated with the Australian National University (ANU) and is listed as a sociologist, computer scientist, and economist.

## Biography
- Nationality: Australia
- Education:
  - Australian National University — Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (work referenced as *International comparisons of real income*); doctoral advisor: Steve Dowrick
  - Yale University — Master of Arts (MA)
  - University of Melbourne (degree not specified in provided sources)
- Employer(s): Australian National University
- Field(s): Sociology; Economics; Computer Science
- Known for: Interdisciplinary academic work across social science, economics, and computing (specific outputs not provided in the source material)

## Contributions
The provided source material identifies Robert Ackland as an Australian academic with occupations listed as sociologist, computer scientist, and economist, and as an employee of the Australian National University (ANU). It also links his doctoral training at ANU to a PhD-level work referenced as *International comparisons of real income*, completed under the supervision of Steve Dowrick. Beyond these points, the sources supplied do not enumerate specific publications, software, datasets, patents, standards, companies, or dated research outputs attributable to Ackland.  

What can be stated concretely from the material is that Ackland’s profile is anchored in formal graduate education (including an MA from Yale University and a PhD from ANU) and an ongoing institutional affiliation with ANU (supported by an ORCID employment record). He is also represented in major authority and library systems (e.g., VIAF and national library identifiers), indicating that his work is cataloged and discoverable in research and library ecosystems, though the underlying titles and dates are not included in the provided excerpt.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Robert Ackland?
A: Robert Ackland is an Australian academic associated with the Australian National University. His occupations are listed as sociologist, computer scientist, and economist.

### Q: Where does Robert Ackland work?
A: He is listed as an employee of the Australian National University. This affiliation is supported by an ORCID-based employment reference.

### Q: What did Robert Ackland study?
A: He earned a Master of Arts from Yale University and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University. He also attended the University of Melbourne (degree not specified in the provided sources).

### Q: Does Robert Ackland have a doctoral advisor listed?
A: Yes. His doctoral advisor is listed as Steve Dowrick, in connection with the referenced work *International comparisons of real income*.

## Why They Matter
Based on the provided material, Robert Ackland matters primarily as an interdisciplinary academic figure whose professional identity bridges sociology, economics, and computer science, and whose career is institutionally tied to the Australian National University. This combination of fields signals a profile positioned to work across computational and social-scientific approaches, though the specific research outputs and impacts are not detailed in the supplied sources.  

His inclusion in multiple authority control and national library systems (such as VIAF and national library identifiers) indicates that he is a recognized contributor within scholarly and bibliographic infrastructures, enabling consistent attribution and discovery of his work across catalogs and research databases. Additionally, the presence of a Google Scholar author identifier and a *The Conversation* author identifier suggests public-facing and scholarly visibility, even though the underlying articles and citation details are not provided here. Without more detailed publication or project data in the source material, the lasting impact cannot be described beyond his documented roles, training, and institutional affiliation.

## Notable For
- Australian academic with occupations listed as sociologist, computer scientist, and economist
- Employment affiliation with the Australian National University (ANU)
- PhD education at ANU associated with *International comparisons of real income*; doctoral advisor: Steve Dowrick
- Master of Arts degree from Yale University
- Presence in major authority and library identifier systems (e.g., VIAF 204205326; Trove People ID 598799)

## Body

### Identity and Names
- Full name form listed: Robert James Ackland
- Aliases:
  - R. Ackland
  - Rob Ackland
  - Robert Ackland
- Given names (ordered):
  - Robert
  - James
- Family name: Ackland
- Sex or gender: male
- Citizenship: Australia

### Occupations and Fields
- Occupations listed:
  - Sociologist
  - Computer scientist
  - Economist
- Field coverage (as provided): sociology, economics, computer science

### Education and Training
- Australian National University
  - Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  - Associated reference: *International comparisons of real income*
  - Doctoral advisor: Steve Dowrick
- Yale University
  - Degree: Master of Arts (MA)
- University of Melbourne
  - Attendance listed (degree not specified in provided sources)

### Employment and Affiliation
- Employer: Australian National University
  - Reference provided via an ORCID employment record (link included in source material)

### Public Profiles and Contact
- Described at:
  - https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/ackland-rj
  - https://sociology.cass.anu.edu.au/people/professor-robert-ackland
- Email address (as listed): robert.ackland@anu.edu.au

### Identifiers and Cataloging
- VIAF ID: 204205326
- Trove People ID (NLA): 598799
- Libraries Australia ID: 36006380
- Google Scholar author ID: nkVb74YAAAAJ
- The Conversation author ID: 454722
- National Library of Latvia ID: 000251221
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007452021305171

## References

1. [Source](https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/ackland-rj)
2. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0002-0008-1766/employment/2726058)
3. International comparisons of real income
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File