The Economic Society of Singapore (ESS) was established on July 28, 1956 by the Economics Department of University of Malaya in Singapore (now known as National University of Singapore). Today, ESS is a non-profit organisation, bringing together members from the academia, government and business sector to discuss current economic issues relating to Singapore and the region. ESS publishes the Singapore Economic Review Journal, conducts independent research, and holds conferences and networking sessions.
Key Milestones
1956
The Economic Society of Singapore (ESS), formerly the Malayan Economic Society, was established on July 28, as a result of the initiative of graduates and some staff members of the Department of Economics of the then University of Malaya in Singapore.
1969
The Society changed its name to the Economic Society of Singapore, in keeping with the independent and sovereign status of the Republic on 28 March.
1969
The Society published the Malayan Economic Review (MER), a journal later renamed the “Singapore Economic Review” (SER).
1973
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Dr. Goh Keng Swee and Professor You Poh Seng
1976
The ESS became a founding member of the Federation of Asean Economic Associations (FAEA).
1979
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Emeritus Professor Lim Chong Yah
2006
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
2010
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
2017
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Minister Heng Swee Keat
1956
The Economic Society of Singapore (ESS), formerly the Malayan Economic Society, was established on July 28, as a result of the initiative of graduates and some staff members of the Department of Economics of the then University of Malaya in Singapore.
1969
The Society changed its name to the Economic Society of Singapore, in keeping with the independent and sovereign status of the Republic on 28 March.
1969
The Society published the Malayan Economic Review (MER), a journal later renamed the “Singapore Economic Review” (SER).
1973
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Dr. Goh Keng Swee and Professor You Poh Seng
1976
The ESS became a founding member of the Federation of Asean Economic Associations (FAEA).
1979
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Emeritus Professor Lim Chong Yah
2006
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
2010
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
2017
The status of Honorary Fellowship of the Society has been conferred to Minister Heng Swee Keat
66th ESS Council
PRESIDENT
Professor Euston QUAH
Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics and Director, Economic Growth Centre School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Manu BHASKARAN
Chief Executive and Founding Director, Centennial Asia Advisors
VICE-PRESIDENT
Dr. David LEE
Chairman, Global Fintech Institute Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences
VICE-PRESIDENT
Ms. Selena LING
Chief Economist Head of Treasury Research and Strategy Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC)
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Vikram KHANNA
Associate Editor, The Straits Times
VICE-PRESIDENT
Professor Danny QUAH
Dean and Li Ka Shing Professor (Economics), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
HONORARY TREASURER
A/P CHIA Wai Mun
Associate Professor (Economics) Co- Director, Economic Growth Centre Director, Master of Science in Applied Economics, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
ASSISTANT HONORARY TREASURER
Mr. LIM Sze How
Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
HONORARY SECRETARY
A/P CHANG Young Ho
Associate Professor & Head, Business & Management Minors, Singapore University of Social Sciences
ASSISTANT HONORARY SECRETARY
Mr. LEE Jian Lin, Zach
Research Associate, Nanyang Technological University, TUM-CREATE
ASSISTANT HONORARY SECRETARY
Dr Harold TENG
Associate Director and Head of Administration Center of Excellence in Modelling and Simulation for Next Generation Ports (C4NGP), National University of Singapore (NUS).
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. Taimur BAIG
Managing Director and Chief Economist, DBS Bank LTD
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. CHUA Hak Bin
Regional Co-Head Macro Research Maybank Kim Eng
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr James CHEO
Managing Director Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia Global Private Banking and Wealth
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. Philip CHUA
Former Senior Country Executive American Express Bank Ltd
COUNCIL MEMBER
Professor Gunter DUFEY
Prof Emeritus University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI and EDUCATION EXCHANGE LTD SG
COUNCIL MEMBER
Ms Maureen DEROOIJ
Chief Executive Officer, The Executive Forum
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr Marcus Fum
Lead Economist & Head, Price Analysis Division, Monetary Authority of Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. Prakash KANNAN
Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Total Portfolio Management, GIC Pte Ltd
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. KON SC, Derrick
Chief Executive Officer, CEO Solutions and Board Director, Halogen Foundation Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr LAU Kok Hui
Chief Executive Officer, Vector InfoTech Pte. Ltd.
COUNCIL MEMBER
A/P LIM Jamus Jerome
Associate Professor of Economics, ESSEC Business School, Member of the 14th Parliament of Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. NG Wai Choong
Chief Executive Officer, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. Amos ONG
Partner and co-founder, A3 Capital Pte Ltd
COUNCIL MEMBER
Professor John QUAH
Distinguished Professor Department of Economics Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences National University of Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Professor SOH Wai Lin Christina
Dean, Nanyang Business School, VP, Strategy and Leadership Development, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. SONG Seng Wun
Director, CIMB Private Banking
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. SUAN Teck Kin
Head of Research, Executive Director, Global Economics and Markets Research, United Overseas Bank
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. Michael SYN
Senior Managing Director, Head of Equities, Singapore Exchange Limited
COUNCIL MEMBER
Dr. TAN Hi Lin
Senior Director, Policy & Markets, Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mrs. TAN Say Tin
Senior Curriculum Specialist (Economics), Humanities Branch Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Education
COUNCIL MEMBER
A/P TAN Swee Liang
Associate Professor of Economics (Practice) School of Economics, Singapore Management University
COUNCIL MEMBER
Mr. Franky TANUDJOJO
Managing Director, Head, International Banking, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
COUNCIL MEMBER
A/P Walter THESEIRA
Associate Professor of Economics, School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences; and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
COUNCIL MEMBER
Ms. TOK Yoke Wang
Senior Economist, The IMF – Singapore Regional Training Institute (STI)
COUNCIL MEMBER
Ms. YONG Yik Wei
Chief Economist and Director, Economics Division, Ministry of Trade and Industry, The Public Administration Medal (Silver) (COVID-19)
ESS COMMITTEES
ESS GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
PROFESSOR DAVID LEE
Chairperson
MR. MANU BHASKARAN
Member
PROFESSOR CHANG YOUNG HO
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHIA WAI MUN
Member
MR. VIKRAM KHANNA
Member
MR. NG WAI CHOONG
Member
ESS INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
DR. PRAKASH KANNAN
Chairperson
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHIA WAI MUN
Member
DR CHUA HAK BIN
Member
PROFESSOR DAVID LEE
Member
MR AMOS ONG
Member
MR SUAN TECK KIN
Member
MR LIM SZE HOW
Member
MR SONG SENG WUN
Member
ESS FEEDBACK POLICY COMMITTEE
MR. MANU BHASKARAN
Chairperson
MS SELENA LING
Member
PROFESSOR DANNY QUAH
Member
DR MICHAEL SYN
Member
DR TAIMUR BAIG
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WALTER THESEIRA
Member
DR DERRICK KON
Member and Adhoc Committee Chair
MR LAU KOK HUI
Member and Adhoc Committee Member
MS MAUREEN DE ROOIJ
Member and Adhoc Committee
ESS EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TAN SWEE LIANG
Chairperson
MS TAN SAY TIN
Member
DR HAROLD TENG
Member
MR ZACH LEE
Member
DR. TAN HI LIN
Member
MR MARCUS FUM
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JAMUS LIM
Member
PROFESSOR SOH WAI LIN, CHRISTINA
Member
PROFESSOR HOHN QUAH
Member
PROFESSOR GUNTER DUFEY
Member
MS TOK YOKE WANG
Member
ESS YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE
MR. PHILIP CHUA
Chairperson
MR. LIM SZE HOW
Advisor
MS. YONG YIK WEI
Advisor
MR. FRANKY TANUDJOJO
Advisor
MR JAMES CHEO
Advisor
MR ZACH LEE
Advisor
MR LEE KAH HOW
Young Professionals Leader
Past ESS Presidents
Khor Hoe Ee
2003-2008
Augustine Tan
2000-2002
Basant Kapur
1998-1999
Teh Kok Peng
1991-1997
Lim Chong Yah
1978-1990
1973-1975
You Poh Seng
1976-1977
1971-1972
Howe Yoon Chong
1969-1970
Pang Tee Pow
1967-1968
Lee Keng Tuan
1965-1966
Lim Tay Boh
1961-1964
Ungku Abdul Aziz
1959-1960
Thomas Henry Silcock
1956-1958