Suggestions
George Magnus
Research Associate, China Centre, Oxford University & at SOAS
George Magnus is a prominent economist and commentator, known for his extensive experience in global finance and economic analysis. He served as the Chief Economist and later as Senior Economic Adviser at UBS Investment Bank from 1995 to 2016, playing a key role during significant economic events, including the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, which he notably predicted in 2006-2007 through his research on Minsky Moments.124
Career Highlights
- UBS Investment Bank: Magnus held the position of Chief Economist from 1995 to 2012, followed by Senior Economic Adviser until 2016. During this time, he was involved in critical discussions on global economic trends and advised various clients, including asset management firms and central banks.136
- Previous Roles: Before joining UBS, he was the Chief Economist at SG Warburg (1987-1995) and held senior positions at Chase Securities and Bank of America.17 His career spans nearly four decades in the financial sector.
- Academic Contributions: Magnus is a Research Associate at the China Centre at Oxford University and at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. He has authored several books on economic topics, including The Age of Aging (2008) and Red Flags: Why Xi’s China is in Jeopardy (2018) which critiques China's economic policies under Xi Jinping.27
Public Engagement
Magnus is recognized for his ability to communicate complex economic ideas effectively. He regularly contributes to major media outlets such as the Financial Times and appears on various television and radio programs, discussing global economic issues and trends.57
His insights into China's economy and global financial systems have made him a sought-after speaker at conferences and events, where he addresses topics ranging from demographic changes to geopolitical shifts impacting economies worldwide.45
In summary, George Magnus's career reflects a deep engagement with both theoretical and practical aspects of economics, making him a significant figure in contemporary economic discourse.
Highlights
A vignette about China's economic travails, underscored again today by the release of July credit data which show that firms and HH just aren't interested in borrowing. But given the amount that's been written on these topics in the last few days, including by your scribe here, even I am tempted to move on. The key issues I think people want answers to what measures will the govt take to try and lift the economy, and is there anything cooking for the 3rd Plenum which can't be that far away? Speculate as we might, and we can always hope for positive surprises, the facts that don't change are that the economic model is out of sorts, and to keep things together, Leninists have to keep ratcheting up the authoritarianism which makes the economy worse and so on.
