Struan Ross Robertson lives in Grahamstown, South Africa, and is reading towards a Master of
Economics degree in Economics at Rhodes University. His research interests include Economic
History, Development Economics, and Industrial Organisation. He received his Bachelor of
Economics degree with distinction in Economics and Industrial and Economic Sociology in 2011
from Rhodes University and recently, in 2012, he obtained his Honours degree with distinction in
Economics from Rhodes University. In 2012, Struan was a recipient of a Rhodes University
Prestigious Scholarship Award. Struan was born in Empangeni, South Africa, but spent much of his
formative years just outside of Nelspruit. Struan has been economically minded since his teens
when for example he raised ornamental Chickens for the pet-trade market as a way of earning his
own pocket money. Indeed, Struan 'learned' economics from a young age in a household where
budgeting, price searching and thriftiness were family norms; these experiences sparked his interest
in understanding how economies function, the role of consumption in modern societies and a
passion for human welfare concerns. Struan was home-schooled from grades 6 to 10 before
completing grade 11 and 12 in Johannesburg while boarding with his older sister. Struan was
sponsored by his high school Abbotts College Northcliff to join the school expedition to climb Mt
Kilimanjaro and in June 2008 he successfully summited Uhuru (Freedom) Peak, Africa's highest
point. During his time at Rhodes University he has Sub-Wardened in Piet Retief House, a
Residence on campus, and been involved with tutoring Economics 2 students on Microeconomics
and Macroeconomics. In 2013, Struan is tutoring Economics 3 students on International Trade
Theory and Policy and on the South African Economy. Struan’s favourite author is J.R.R. Tolkien.