Coyle was an economist at the UK Treasury from 1985 to 1986, and later became the European Editor of Investors Chronicle between 1993 and 2001 and economics editor of The Independent. She has written a series of books focused on educating people about different aspects of economics. She has said that her first book, The Weightless World, was a contribution to the creation of a radical centre. Another book explores concepts of "enoughness" and sustainability. Coyle was also a member of the UK's Competition Commission from 2001 to 2009, a member of the Royal Economic Society, previously a member of the UK Border Agency's Migration Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2014, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Coyle was previously a presenter on BBC Radio 4 and was a member of the BBC Trust from November 2006 until April 2015. On 7 April 2011 the Queen approved Coyle's appointment as the Vice-Chairman of the BBC Trust, the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. She also has been contributing regularly to Project Syndicate since 2017. Coyle has praised the news coverage of the BBC, saying "I've always valued the BBC, not least as the best provider of news coverage in the world. Its impartiality and comprehensive coverage underpin its vital civic role." However, in 2009 she was critical of the BBC's programming, stating "Viewers are becoming increasingly cynical and disappointed by the programmes offered by the BBC and the UK's other main TV channels." "Among the negative comments there are complaints about a lack of variety, too much soap or costume drama…disappointment about old series being brought back and a degree of cynicism over 'rehashing' and ripping off old ideas". She was a professor of economics at the University of Manchester from 2014 to 2018. Since March 2018, she has been the Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, co-directing the Bennett Institute. Coyle is managing director of Enlightenment Economics, an economic consultancy to large corporate clients and international organisations, specialising in new technologies and globalisation. She was employed by EDF Energy on its stakeholder advisory panel. Following her Indigo Prize-winning essay on radically replacing GDP measurements, Coyle now leads the Six Capitals research project, funded by LetterOne, at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University; the project was inaugurated in January 2019 and explores social and natural capital.
Personal life
She is married to BBC News' Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones. The couple have two sons and live in West Ealing, London.
