Matthew Sparkes

Matthew Sparkes is an Assistant Professor in Sociology and Fellow in the Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge.

Matthew specialises in understanding economic systems and their ties to politics and finance. His research investigates how these systems originated and their diverse impacts on social groups, considering factors like class, gender, and culture. In previous research, he investigated consumer credit usage and the ramifications of debt on individuals' circumstances.

Matthew's current research focuses on how credit markets shape social inequalities. He has recently explored the phenomenon of mortgage prisoners, analysing the reasons behind their elevated rates of arrears and impaired credit files.

Before entering academia, Matthew worked as a Debt Advisor for StepChange Debt Charity. He earned his PhD in Sociology and MA in Social Research at the University of York, and his BA in Sociology from Leeds Metropolitan University.