WORLD RANKED ECONOMIST TO STAND FOR ALBA
Dr Jim Walker, chief economist at Aletheia Capital is to stand for the new Alba Party in the upcoming Scottish elections.
A world-ranked economist who topped the Asiamoney poll for 11 years in succession Dr Walker has worked in Asia for many years. He is returning to his native Scotland from Hong Kong to contest the election in Central Scotland for the Alba Party, launched last week by former First Minister, Alex Salmond.
Jim Walker said
“It is now time that the economic benefits of independence were recast for the post-Brexit age.
The success of small economies in the modern world – and there are many examples – depends on high human capital and access to global markets.
Scotland should have both. Currently both are in jeopardy.
The task of this next Scottish Parliament is to put the country on the road to prosperity through claiming national independence.
It is a good thing for the country to shape its economic destiny. No-one will run the Scottish economy better than the people of Scotland who have most invested in the country.
Thus the debate on national independence is not a substitute for concentrating on sustained economic recovery. It is a pre-requisite.”
Alex Salmond welcoming Dr Walker to the Alba Party list of candidates said
“Throughout his outstanding international career in economics Jim Walker has kept his commitment to Scotland. Now he is able to return and offer his expertise at the disposal of the Parliament and the people.
Alba are thrilled to have such economic substance in our team as we offer the people a way forward. The Scottish Parliament which negotiates independence needs to have an array of real talent and strength in depth.
Only last Friday at our launch I was told I would be leading a one-man band. Already we are fielding a political orchestra of women and men of ability from a range of backgrounds to help take the nation forward de
Very exciting to have someone such as Dr Walker on board.
One thing you need for a credible party is economic heft. One of my criticisms of the previous Indy manifesto was the fact that we used big hitters like James Mirlees and Joe Stiglitz in a growth commission but they were simply endorsing as far as I could see not contributing. Having the likes of Jim Walker a markets economist on there is a good catch. His Apocalypse reports foresaw the US sub prime crisis, and called turns in Asian markets. I’d like to see Alex an Economist himself land a good labour market economist and a more heterodox macroeconomist preferably one who isn’t as orthodox as Jim Walker. We need a broad policy church.
Stilgitz, Mirlees et al endorsed AND contributed last time via the Growth Commission!
Is Dr Walker the one that called Sturgeon a cow, or was that another candidate?