Chief Economist, Aletheia Capital

Dr. Jim Walker

Jim Walker is the chief economist at Aletheia Analyst Network Limited, an independent research platform for the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Aletheia he was the founder and chief economist at Asianomics Group an economics and strategy research consultancy company formed in late 2007. 

Before establishing Asianomics he was the chief economist at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. He joined CLSA in late 1991. Over the years Dr Jim achieved numerous ‘best economist’ rankings in the Asiamoney, Institutional Investor and Greenwich surveys of fund managers. In 1995 he wrote about the prospect of Asia being forced off its de facto dollar peg “within the next two-three years”. The Asian Crisis, precipitated by the Thai baht devaluation, began in July 1997.

In recent years he is best known for forecasting the US 2007 downturn and financial sector meltdown in his series of ‘Apocalypse’ reports. He remains deeply sceptical of the prevailing wisdom in central banks’ approach to monetary policy.

Over the years he has also developed an approach to analysing Asian economies based on profit and credit cycles where the importance of investment spending as the driver of economic activity is explained.

Early in his career he worked in his native Scotland as a research fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute for Research on the Scottish Economy, and then at The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Edinburgh headquarters. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Chief Economist

Fiscal Response to COVID-19: Bazooka or Spud Gun?

Monetary Policy: Nothing to Offer (And That’s Where They’re Going)

Fault Lines and Positive Surprises: Buy Car Makers

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

Macroeconomics

<p>One of the first Western government responses to the coronavirus crisis was delivered in the UK’s annual budget on 11 March. Earlier that day the Bank of England cut its reference rate from 0.75% to 0.25%. Journalist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard described the events as “a combined monetary and fiscal stimulus of breathtaking panache” (Daily Telegraph 12 March). He cited Evercore ISI’s comments on the budget to back up his claim: “The combined UK monetary-fiscal actions will add up to the most comprehensive, balanced and integrated policy response to the virus yet seen internationally. This exposes the lack of response to date in the EU and the US.” </p>

One of the first Western government responses to the coronavirus crisis was delivered in the UK’s annual budget on 11 March. Earlier that day the Bank of England cut its reference rate from 0.75% to 0.25%. Journalist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard described the events as “a combined monetary and fiscal stimulus of breathtaking panache” (Daily Telegraph 12 March). He cited Evercore ISI’s comments on the budget to back up his claim: “The combined UK monetary-fiscal actions will add up to the most comprehensive, balanced and integrated policy response to the virus yet seen internationally. This exposes the lack of response to date in the EU and the US.” 

COVID-19: A Perspective on Policy: The World Economy’s Immune System Is Already Severely Compromised