Research Capabilities

During the earlier periods, EGC provided economic policy analysis and suggestion on education, social security, welfare, environmental management, health, housing, and population by forecasting the performance of Singapore Economy and researching on the factors of global economic development from the examples of East Asian countries were the primary focus.

The units were constituted of 1) the Econometric Modeling Unit, which made regular forecasts on the Singapore economy, 2) the Exchange Rate Dynamics Unit, which studied the rate performance of selected countries, and 3) the Survey and Social Research Unit, which analyzed economic and social policy issues in Singapore and the region, such as the adequacy of the current CPF system to meet old-age requirements.

Under the leadership of new director of EGC, Professor Euston Quah, EGC divided its research units into the Macroeconomic Policy & Growth Research Unit and the Microeconomic Policy & Social Research Unit”.

The Macroeconomic Policy & Growth Research Unit focused on studies relevant to the macroeconomic management of the Singapore economy, providing insights on social-economic issues to support informed economic policy making. The scope of research encompassed themes such as macroeconomic policies, strategic economic growth, sectoral studies, links with trading partners, population and labour force projections, finance, housing, transportation and health issues. 

The Microeconomic Policy & Social Research Unit promoted research on microeconomic topics using micro-econometrics analysis, experimental and behavioral economics analysis, and applied theoretical analysis. The Unit focused on research that makes general contributions toward economic theory and applied policy analysis. In particular, the Unit encouraged the use of administrative, miro level data, as well as empirical methodology and experimental and behavioral economics methodology to evaluate various policy interventions.

Maintaining our interest in applied economics and policy research, EGC is shifting its overall research focus to sustainability and environment to seek solutions to the problems that we are newly facing.

By taking advantage of our large pool of environmental experts and energy scientists, and providing a visible platform that facilitates collaborations across different schools and research centers at NTU, EGC hopes to produce impactful interdisciplinary research outcomes to provide guidance to policy makers for better environmental governance for Singapore and the ASEAN countries.

Together with our research connections, EGC encourages both theoretical and empirical works addressing pressing global, regional and local environmental problems, such as:​

1. Transboundary Pollution and Climate Change
2. Environmental Decision-Making
3. Urban Management in Megacities
4. Building Liveable Cities
5. Air and Water Pollution
6. Environmental and Natural Disasters
7. Environmental Change and Infectious Diseases
8. Energy, Environment and the Singapore Economy​