Gavin Cameron, a Reader in Macroeconomics and Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), Oxford, was one of the most talented economists of his generation.

His work with colleagues on labour and housing markets had a major impact, leading to new understandings of the drivers of regional house prices in the UK. It showed, among other things, that UK house prices were not significantly overvalued before 2006.

Work on regional migration revealed the deep influences of the housing market. His other research also threw new light on the determinants of regional differences in unemployment and earnings and on mortgage repossessions, and made a key input into the Government’s Housing Affordability Study. Cameron also wrote, with typical flair, in the areas of international macroeconomics and the economics of science.

A highly skilled teacher, Cameron excelled at rendering complex economic concepts understandable to non-economists. This led to many enjoyable interactions with the media. He made several appearances on television, and was amused when his pessimistic views on the housing market resulted in his being dubbed “Dr Doom” on a Trevor MacDonald programme.

Cameron co-founded the widely-read website Housingoutlook.co.uk and published many shorter policy pieces and articles for newspapers and magazines.

He had a remarkably wide range of expertise, an abiding interest in economic policy and a talent for cogent expression. Those who worked with him appreciated his astonishingly quick grasp of arguments, his ability to work through long logical sequences, and his outstanding programming skills.

Cameron was born in Amersham in 1969 and attended Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood. Having graduated, aged 20, with first-class honours from Lancaster University, he did a Masters in Economics at Bristol University, and a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford University. His thesis on productivity growth, research and development (R&D) and the open economy led to more than ten distinguished publications and many fruitful research collaborations.

He worked for two years for HM Treasury as an economic assistant before going to Nuffield College, Oxford, to begin his research career. He was first a research officer and then research Fellow, before moving to LMH in 2000.

Cameron participated in the college life of LMH with characteristic enthusiasm. He expected his students to work hard, but he could also be seen clubbing into the early hours when they celebrated the end of their examinations. Many of them kept in touch with him after they graduated.

He also taught on the Oxford University Business Economics Programme, and gave wise advice to LMH on financial and investment strategy.

Cameron was found to have cystic fibrosis at a time when the life expectancy of a child with it was about 10 years. Of the numerous prizes and awards he received he was perhaps most proud of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Academic Achiever of the Year award, which he won in 1997.

Cameron — a witty, kind, generous and thoughtful man — travelled all over the world and went on skiing trips with his friends every year. Having lost both his parents at a young age, he cherished his remaining family.

Cameron was promoted to a Readership in Macroeconomics at Oxford University in 2006, at the age of only 37.

He died waiting for a lung transplant. He is survived by his wife, Julia, whom he married in 2006.

Gavin Cameron, economist, was born on April 3, 1969. He died of complications of cystic fibrosis on September 9, 2007, aged 38