Published on 30 Mar 2023

A tribute to the first chief economic advisor of Singapore

Celebrating the life of Dr Albert Winsemius.

Book cover of Albert Winsemius book

As Singapore’s first chief external economic advisor, Dutch economist Dr Albert Winsemius was instrumental in transforming Singapore from a preindustrial nation into a manufacturing and industrialisation hub

His contributions to the nation’s economic growth and development are detailed in a book written by NTU Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics Prof Euston Quah and research associates Luke N. Iuldashov and Zach Lee of NTU’s School of Social Sciences.

Tracing Dr Winsemius’ journey from cheese-seller to economist, the compendium is both a window into the

life of the quietly unassuming economist as well as a study of his impact on Singapore’s early economic development to date.

Through pieces such as interviews with prominent politicians and political researchers as well as vignettes contributed by the Winsemius family, the book paints a picture of Dr Winsemius’ influence on past, current and future economic planners, a legacy that extends beyond his biography.

The book, Albert Winsemius and Singapore: Here It is Going to Happen, published by World Scientific Publishing

(ISBN: 978-981-122-965-7), was launched by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in May 2022.

The article appeared first in NTU's research & innovation magazine Pushing Frontiers (issue #21, December 2022).