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
64th ESS Council
PRESIDENT
Professor Euston QUAH
Albert Winsemius Chair Professor in Economics 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
Mrs. Jeanne CHENG
Chief Risk Officer, Singapore Power Limited
VICE-PRESIDENT
Dr. David LEE
Co-Founder, Left Coast Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Vikram KHANNA
Associate Editor, The Straits Times
VICE-PRESIDENT
Dr. Leslie TEO
Head of Data Science, Policy and Data Initiatives, Grab
Honorary Treasurer
A/P Chia Wai Mun
Associate Professor (Economics), Deputy Director Economic Growth Centre, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
Honorary Assistant Treasurer
Mr. LIM Sze How
Executive Director, Partnership, Lombard Odier
Honorary Secretary
A/P Chang Young Ho
Associate Professor, Head, Business & Management Minor, Singapore University of Social Sciences
Honorary Assistant Secretary
Mr. CHUA Yeow Hwee
Instructor, National University of Singapore
Honorary Assistant Secretary
Mr. LEE Jian Lin, Zach
Research Associate, Nanyang Technological University, TUM-CREATE
Council Member
Dr. Taimur BAIG
Managing Director and Chief Economist DBS Bank LTD
Council Member
Mr. Tommy BARTSHUKOFF
Chairman, Avenir Holdings Pte Ltd
Council Member
Mr. CHOI Kent
Team Leader, Credit Suisse
Council Member
Dr. CHUA Hak Bin
Senior Economist, Maybank Kim Eng
Council Member
Mr. Philip CHUA
Former Senior Country Executive, American Express Bank Ltd
Council Member
Dr. Prakash KANNAN
Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Total Portfolio Management, GIC Pte Ltd
Council Member
Dr. Derrick KON
Chief Executive and Board Member, CEO Solutions 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
Ms. Selena LING
Chief Economist and Head of Treasury Research and Strategy Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
Council Member
Mr. LOOI Teik Soon
Dean, LTA Academy, Director, Future Mobility, Director, Industry Development, Executive Director, Singapore Rail Academy
Council Member
Mr. NG Wai Choong
Chief Executive Officer, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Council Member
Mr. Amos ONG
Head, Global Banking, Maybank, Singapore
Council Member
Professor Danny QUAH
Dean and Li Ka Shing Professor (Economics), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Council Member
Professor SOH Wai Lin Christina
Dean, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University
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
Prof TAKAHASHI Satoru
Head, Department of Economics, National University of Singapore
Council Member
Dr. TAN Hi Lin
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, Economics, Singapore Management University
Council Member
Mr. Franky TANUDJOJO
Managing Director, Head, International Banking, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
Council Members
A/P Walter Edgar THESEIRA
Associate Professor, Economics & Head, Master of Management (Urban Transportation) Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences
Council Members
Professor TSUI Kai Chong
Provost, Office of the President, Singapore University of Social Sciences
Council Members
Ms. YONG Yik Wei
Director, Economics Division, Ministry of Trade and Industry
ESS COMMITTEES
ESS GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
PROFESSOR DAVID LEE
Chairman
MR. MANU BHASKARAN
Member
PROFESSOR CHANG YOUNG HO
Member
MS. JEANNE CHENG
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHIA WAI MUN
Member
MR. PHILIP CHUA
Member
MR. VIKRAM KHANNA
Member
MR. LIM SZE HOW
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WALTER THESEIRA
Member
ESS INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
DR. PRAKASH KANNAN
Chairman
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHIA WAI MUN
Member
DR LESLIE TEO
Member
PROFESSOR DAVID LEE
Member
MR LIM SZE HOW
Member
DR. CHUA HAK BIN
Member
MR AMOS ONG
Member
ESS FEEDBACK POLICY COMMITTEE
MR. MANU BHASKARAN
Chairman
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHIA WAI MUN
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WALTER THESEIRA
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JAMUS LIM
Member
PROFESSOR CHRISTINA SOH
Member
PROFESSOR SATORU TAKAHASHI
Member
MS SELENA LING
Member
MR. TOMMY BARTSHUKOFF
Member
ESS EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE
MS. TAN SAY TIN
Chairman
MR. CHUA YEOW HWEE
Member
DR. TAN HI LIN
Member
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TAN SWEE LIANG
Member
ESS YOUTH WING COMMITTEE
MR. PHILIP CHUA
Chairman
PROFESSOR DAVID LEE
Advisor
MR. ZACH LEE
Advisor
MR. LIM SZE HOW
Advisor
MR. LOOI TEIK SOON
Advisor
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JAMUS LIM
Advisor
MR. KENT CHOI
Advisor
MR. FRANKY TANUDJOJO
Advisor
MR ZHE XIAN ONG
Youth Leader
Past ESS Presidents
Prof. Euston Quah
Current
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