The Singapore Economic Roundtable (SER) is a biannual meeting of private sector economists, business leaders and policymakers. Participants gather to discuss and debate the major cyclical issues facing the domestic economy and their consequences for monetary and fiscal policies. In addition, it includes a Special Session that seeks to investigate a specific contemporary topic of economic interest.
This year is highly pivotal for Singapore, as the global economy faces significant risks, including a looming trade war, China’s economic slowdown, shifts in United States’ policies and uncertainty in global monetary policies. The first session of the 42nd SER will discuss the cyclical outlook and implications for monetary and fiscal policies given this highly troubled outlook. It will feature a presentation by the Monetary Authority of Singapore followed by observations from two private sector economists.
The second session will examine the impact of rising global protectionism on trade and foreign investment flows into Singapore and Southeast Asia. Given Singapore's high trade dependency and reliance on foreign direct investment, it is particularly vulnerable to shifts in the global trading environment, including the US-China trade war and subsequent economic slowdowns. This session will analyse potential scenarios in the global trading environment, assess the consequences for Singapore and the region, and explore possible policy responses.
Click here for the programme.