In today’s rapidly evolving global environment, central banks are operating under increasing uncertainty. Persistent inflation pressures, volatile capital flows, financial market fragmentation, and the rise of digital finance have made policy analysis more complex than ever. At the same time, expectations placed on central banks have expanded, requiring not only sound judgment, but also robust analytical frameworks to support timely and effective decision-making.
In this context, economic modelling has become a critical institutional capability. Models are no longer confined to academic exercises; they are essential tools for forecasting, policy analysis, risk assessment, and communication.
Yet, across many central banks particularly in emerging and developing economies—modelling capacity often remains uneven. Teams face constraints in terms of data availability, technical expertise, and the ability to translate complex models into policy-relevant insights.
Recognising these shared challenges, The SEACEN Centre has established the Economic Modelling Network (EMN)—a collaborative platform designed to strengthen modelling capacity, foster peer learning, and support more effective policy analysis across member central banks.
Advisory Board: Linking Research and Practice
To further strengthen the network, the EMN is supported by an Advisory Board comprising distinguished academics and practitioners with expertise in empirical modelling, macroeconomic policy analysis, and international finance.
The Advisory Board plays an important role in:
- providing intellectual guidance on modelling topics and research directions
- contributing to selected EMN discussions and events
- strengthening the link between academic research and policy practice
- supporting the development of modelling capacity across member central banks
Members of the Advisory Board include:
- Professor Gazi Salah Uddin (Linköping University, Sweden), specialising in empirical macroeconomics, time series econometrics, and energy economics
- Professor João Tovar Jalles (University of Lisbon, Portugal), with expertise in fiscal policy, macroeconomic modelling, and structural reforms
- Professor Bo Sjö (Linköping University, Sweden), focusing on financial economics, macroeconomic analysis, and banking systems
- Professor Warwick McKibbin (Australian National University, Australia), a leading authority on global macroeconomic modelling, DSGE frameworks, and climate economics
- Professor Mansor Ibrahim (INCEIF University, Malaysia), specialising in Islamic finance, financial markets, and macro-financial linkages
- Professor Law Siong Hook (Universiti Putra Malaysia), with expertise in applied econometrics, financial economics, and macroeconomic modelling
The involvement of the Advisory Board ensures that the EMN remains connected to global research frontiers, while staying grounded in the practical realities faced by central banks.
