VSB Hosts Chief Global Economist Simon Baptist, Chief Global Economist at EIU

VILLANOVA, Pa., May 1, 2018 – Villanova School of Business (VSB) hosted Simon Baptist, Chief Global Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for a presentation on Momentum and Menace: Opportunities and Challenges in the Global Economy. The presentation was sponsored by VSB’s Center for Global Leadership, Department of Economics, Graduate and Executive Programs, and Falvey Library.

In his presentation, Baptist discussed the global economic landscape in 2018 and beyond. He described the macroeconomic trends and how economies are inherently linked to geopolitical risks. The presentation ended with a Q&A session where students, faculty and visitors had the opportunity to engage Baptist in a discussion of current and emerging issues in the global economy.

“Bringing global thought-leaders to Villanova such as Dr. Baptist is a reflection of our increasing national and international stature and our commitment to being fully engaged in global economic issues and debates. Baptist gave our students a broad and insightful exposure to the challenges and threats in the global economy,” said Jonathan Doh, PhD, associate dean of research, Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business and faculty director of the Elenore and Robert F. Moran Sr. Center for Global Leadership

Baptist is currently based in Singapore where he focuses on the global economy, national and international political developments, and public policy. He engages with business, government and international organizations, helping them to understand the operational and strategic implications of the EIU’s forecasts. Baptist is also the Managing Director for the EIU in Asia, with oversight for the EIU’s research, consultancy and C-suite advisory services in the region. He has a doctorate in economics from Oxford University, where he was a lecturer, along with degrees in economics and science from the University of Tasmania. His academic research investigated technology and the determinants of productivity in manufacturing firms.

The Villanova School of Business (VSB) undergraduate program is ranked #1 in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek and has been at the forefront of business education since it was founded in 1922. The VSB part-time MBA program is ranked #12 in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek. VSB also offers Executive and Online MBA programs, as well as a Master of Finance and Master of Accounting with Data Analytics, and our #1 ranked online grad programs by U.S. News & World Report, the Master of Science in Analytics and Master of Science in Church Management. Serving over 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students, VSB is known for academic rigor; creativity and innovation; hands-on and service learning opportunities; a firm grounding in ethics; and an applied education that prepares students to become outstanding leaders and global citizens within the global, complex, and fast-paced world of business. For more, visit business.villanova.edu.