Dr Bianca Orsi

Profile

I am a Lecturer in the Economics Department at Leeds University Business School (LUBS), where I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. My academic background is in Economics, with postgraduate research focused on the internationalisation strategy of the Brazilian currency and the political economy of global financial structures. I also serve as the Departmental Director of Internationalisation (DDI), supporting international partnerships and initiatives within Economics. My profile brings together research on monetary systems, digital currencies, and women’s participation in economics, with a commitment to delivering clear, engaging, and research‑informed teaching.

Responsibilities

• Department Director of Internationalisation

Research interests

My research examines how monetary systems evolve and how international currencies, particularly those from the periphery, reflect broader patterns of power in the global economy. My work explores currency hierarchies, digital money innovations – such as CBDCs and stablecoins, and the political economy shaping global monetary arrangements, with a particular focus on the vulnerabilities faced by the Global South.

Alongside this, I am co-developing a research strand on women in economics, looking at their experiences, representation, and interest in the discipline. Building on the Women into Studying Economics (WiSE) Project, my work seeks to understand the barriers that shape women’s pathways into economics and their visibility within the profession.

I am also very passionate about teaching, applying research‑led and inclusive practices across my undergraduate and postgraduate modules.

Qualifications

• Phd in Economics - University of Leeds
• MSc in Economics - University of Leeds
• BSc in Economics - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Professional memberships

• Post-Keynesian Economic Society (PKES)
• Associação Keynesiana Brasileira (AKB)

Student education

My teaching has always been shaped by my interest in various fields of economics. I have taught across a wide range of modules, from mathematics and statistics to history of economic thought.

My teaching primarily focuses on modules related to macroeconomics and international economics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including International Economics: Integration and Governance (LUBS3590) and Global Economic Coordination and Governance (LUBS5140M). I also co-teach in the area of pluralist economics through Economic Perspectives and Controversies (LUBS1291).