In association with KPMG, the Economic Research Council is running its ninth annual Clash of the Titans economic forecasting event, which brings together three thought-leaders in economics in the UK. The Clash of the Titans is an unrivalled opportunity to hear economic experts detail their predictions for 2020.  The winners of this year’s competition from our professional forecasters (Melanie Baker, Jagjit Chadha and Adrian Paul) as well as the public competition will be announced. Attendees are invited to enter the forecasting competition at the event.Titans each predict figures for GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, earnings growth and interest rates, as well as a Black Swan’ event which could upset their forecasts. The event is quite gladiatorial and fun- the audience and others then enter their own predictions and everyone competes over the following year, with the winning titan and leading public entrant crowned at the event.

Linda Yueh– Economist, Broadcaster and Author

Professor Linda Yueh is Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, Oxford University and Adjunct Professor of Economics, London Business School. She is also Visiting Professor at LSE IDEAS and Chair of the LSE Economic Diplomacy Commission. Her latest book, The Great Economists: How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today, was The Times’s Best Business Books of 2018.

Professor Douglas McWilliams – Executive Deputy Chairman, CEBR

Douglas is one of the world’s leading economists and was chosen in 2012 from over 300 applicants to become the Gresham Professor of Commerce.

His Gresham lecture series ‘The world’s greatest ever economic event’ looking at the impact of globalisation on the Western economies attracted widespread attention and large audiences.  He has recently published an updated paperback version of his book, The Flat White Economy. He covers all aspects of economics but is best known for his work in forecasting, the economics of the IT and telecoms sectors and transport economics and for his knowledge of the Far East economies. He works with clients who are particularly looking for an economist with a public presence to help make their case. After setting up Cebr, he was the Chief Executive for 20 years, and Executive Chairman. Previously he was Chief Economic Adviser to the Confederation of British Industry and Chief Economist for IBM UK. Douglas is famed for his communications skills and is one of the most widely quoted economists.

and our host for the evening…

 Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG.

Yael is Chief Economist at KPMG in the UK. Her research centres on the impact major issues including Brexit and other geopolitical events are likely to have on the economy as well as on individual businesses. Prior to joining KPMG in 2014 she worked at two independent economic consultancies as well as at PwC for over 14 years, where she set up and led their Macro Consulting business, as well as oversaw their international economic research. She has a BSc in Economics from UCL and did further studies in Advanced Econometrics at LSE. She also has a Chartered Accountant qualification.

Click here to book your early bird tickets to the event at a 25% discount. ERC members can email aimee@nullercouncil.org or call 020 3793 7159 to book your place.