Personal profile

Overview

Luke Yates is a Researcher in the Sustainable Consumption Institute  and a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on everyday life, consumption and technology. He is programme director of Manchester's BSocSc in Sociology. 

Current and recent research has included the examination of digital 'platform' economy businesses such as Uber and Airbnb (open-access article here, book here); collective action and social practice theory, 'everyday' life and its relationships with consumption, changes in everyday practices (around eating habits and economies of sharing in households), and strategy. See Research tab for more. 

Research interests

Specific research interests

  • Sociology of consumption and socio-economic change 
  • The new digital 'platform economy'
  • Imagination, 'futures' and prefigurative politics 
  • Everyday life 
  • Everyday practices, particularly living arrangements, sharing, food, and households

 

Supervision information

I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students with interests in 

  • digital sociology / the platform economy
  • consumer culture
  • environmental sociology
  • alternative institutions and economic practices
  • prefigurative politics
  • theories of practice
  • political strategy

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

External positions

External examiner, Masters in Sociology, The University of Essex

1 Sept 2025 → …

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Sustainable Consumption Institute
  • Sustainable Futures
  • Creative Manchester

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