He has published more than 200 scholarly articles and several books and is internationally known for his contribution to global economic modelling.
McKibbin then studied under Jeffrey Sachs at Harvard University and was awarded a PhD in economics in 1986.
McKibbin was also a member of the Australian Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council under the Howard Government (2005–2007).
They argue that Kyoto Protocol-based carbon-trading systems are too inflexible/brittle to attract developing countries (particularly China & India).
McKibbin was awarded the Order of Australia in 2016 "For Distinguished Service to Education as an Economist, Particularly in the Area of Global Climate Policy, and to Financial Institutions and International Organisations" and the Centenary medal in 2003 "For Service to Australian Society through Economic Policy and Tertiary Education".