Singapore, 18 June 2015…The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have jointly appointed eminent macroeconomist Professor Lawrence Christiano as the MAS Term Professor in Economics and Finance. Professor Christiano, who is the Alfred W. Chase Chair in Business Institutions and Professor of Economics at Northwestern University, will be hosted by the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Department of Economics during the term of the Professorship.

2   Professor Christiano is a world-renowned researcher in macroeconomic theory, policy and econometrics. His expertise spans across many areas, including computational methods, econometric modelling, business cycle and time series analysis, as well as monetary policy and institutions. He is a prolific researcher, having published over 90 articles in top-tiered journals, such as the American Economic Review, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economics and Statistics, and Econometrica. Over the course of his career, Professor Christiano has consulted with and visited international economic institutions and central banks such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. He is also currently the Associate Editor of the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Fellow of the Econometric Society, and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

3   Professor Brenda Yeoh, Dean, NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Professor Lawrence Christiano to NUS. Professor Christiano is a renowned economist, whose insights and experience in the field of macroeconomics will certainly benefit the NUS community. We look forward to the sharing of knowledge and exchange of ideas in the coming weeks.”

4   Mr Edward Robinson, Assistant Managing Director (Economic Policy) and Chief Economist at MAS, said: “Professor Christiano is an internationally recognised economist, whose groundbreaking research has contributed greatly to the current methodological approach to macroeconomics and monetary economics, and shaped modern perspectives on the optimal behaviour of fiscal and monetary policies over the business cycle. It is a great opportunity and a privilege to engage such a distinguished researcher in the field. We are delighted that he has been appointed as the MAS Term Professor and we look forward to welcoming him to MAS.”  

5   Professor Christiano will deliver a public lecture at NUS on 18 June 2015 titled “The Great Recession: Earthquake for Macroeconomics”, during which he will share his insights on how the field of macroeconomics has been profoundly affected by the global financial crisis. In addition, Professor Christiano will hold dialogue sessions with NUS students and faculty members to exchange his latest scholarly findings, conduct a research seminar, and advise PhD students on their research. At the MAS, Professor Christiano will engage senior policymakers, economists and analysts on macroeconomics and related issues.

6   First established in 2009, the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance is awarded to distinguished scholars, who are appointed as Visiting Professors at both the NUS Business School and the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It aims to strengthen Singapore’s financial and economic research infrastructure, and contribute to a vibrant research community and culture at local universities.

7   Professor Lawrence Christiano is the eleventh distinguished scholar to be awarded the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance over the last six years.

About National University of Singapore (NUS)
A leading global university centred in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise.
 
NUS has 16 faculties and schools across three campuses. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Over 37,000 students from 100 countries enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives.
 
NUS has three Research Centres of Excellence (RCE) and 26 university-level research institutes and centres. It is also a partner in Singapore’s fifth RCE. NUS shares a close affiliation with 16 national-level research institutes and centres. Research activities are strategic and robust, and NUS is well-known for its research strengths in engineering, life sciences and biomedicine, social sciences and natural sciences. It also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community.  

This year, NUS celebrates its 110th year of founding together with Singapore’s 50th year of independence. As the island’s first higher education institution established by the local community, NUS prides itself in nurturing generations of leaders and luminaries in Singapore and Asia.
 
For more information on NUS, please visit www.nus.edu.sg . Details on NUS’ 110th Anniversary celebrations are available at nus110.sg.

About Monetary Authority of Singapore
As Singapore's central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) promotes sustained, non-inflationary economic growth through appropriate monetary policy formulation and close macroeconomic surveillance of emerging trends and potential vulnerabilities. It manages Singapore's exchange rate, foreign reserves and liquidity in the banking sector. MAS is also an integrated supervisor overseeing all financial institutions in Singapore -- banks, insurers, capital market intermediaries, financial advisors, and the stock exchange. Being an integrated supervisor allows the MAS to adopt a consistent and progressive regulatory and supervisory approach and framework, thereby ensuring a level playing field across all market segments, sectors and activities. With its mandate to foster a sound and progressive financial services sector in Singapore, MAS also helps shape Singapore's financial industry by promoting a strong corporate governance framework and close adherence to international accounting standards. In addition, it spearheads retail investor education. MAS ensures that Singapore's financial industry remains vibrant, dynamic and competitive by working closely with other government agencies and financial institutions to develop and promote Singapore as a regional and international financial centre.

For more information, please visit www.mas.gov.sg.