Why become an Economist?

​The Economist’s Society is honoured to present to you a talk by Felix Martin, macroeconomist and fund manager, explaining why economics is such an exciting discipline and its relevance in the past, present and future through the story of the 18th century economist, adventurer, and, briefly, Prime Minister of France, John Law. 

Felix Martin has degrees in classics, international relations, and economics from UK, US and Italy. Between 1998 and 2008, Felix worked at the World Bank, mostly on the reconstruction of the former Yugoslavia, and helped establish the European Stability Initiative think tank. 

Since 2008 he has worked in the fund management industry in London, first at Thames River Capital – now part of BMO Global Asset Management; then at Liontrust Asset Management; and most recently as one of the founding partners of 1167 Capital. 

Felix is an associate of the Institute for New Economic Thinking in New York, and of the Centre for Global Studies in London. Felix’s first book – Money: the Unauthorised Biography was critically acclaimed and his writing has appeared in various publications, including the New York Review of Books, Wired, the Financial Times, and The Guardian; and he writes regularly for the New Statesman.
​