5 Names on the CHP Economics Advisory Group

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) recently held a rally in Istanbul called “A Call for a Second Century”. At the meeting, the main directions of the policy that the CHPP will adhere to on various issues in the coming period were announced. Of course, one of the brightest parts of the meeting was the section where the CHP’s vision of the economy of the future was presented. At the meeting, the public was presented with the CHP approach to economic problems in Turkey and its proposals for a solution.

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced at a vision meeting called “A Call for a Second Century” that they have formed a professional team of 70 experts from the world and Turkey who will work non-stop for the benefit of Turkey. The team, which the CHP leader calls a “supra-political think tank,” also includes some world-famous economists. Moreover, some of these economists were presented to the public at the Call for a Second Century Vision meeting. Here are some of the world-famous economists from the supra-political think tank CHP.

1. Jeremy Rifkin

American economist and writer Jeremy Rifkin, who is part of the new CHP economy concept, was one of the brightest names at the meeting. Rifkin, who also served as a consultant to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is known for her research on the impact of changes in science and technology on the economy, workforce, society and the environment.

The world-famous economist was introduced by CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu with the words “my new chief adviser on industrial transformation.” With his company, TIR Consulting, which he currently heads, Rifkin also provides consulting services to many managers on a variety of issues.

2. Daron Acemoglu

Born in Istanbul to an Armenian family living in Turkey, Daron Acemoglu is one of the most important economists in the world. Acemoglu, a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (IMT) in the United States, has attracted particular attention for his research in political economy.

Acemoglu, one of the top 10 most cited economists in the world, has been nominated twice for the Nobel Prize in Economics in recent years. However, Acemoglu’s name is well known to the Turkish public. It is known that the world-famous economist from time to time gives various conferences in Turkey. It was also claimed that he was offered the position of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance in 2018, although this has never been confirmed. Acemoglu’s participation in the supra-political think tank of the CHP is considered by many authorities to be an extremely significant development.

3. Hakan Kara

Another well-known economist at the CHP supra-political think tank is Hakan Kara, who served for many years as chief economist at the Central Bank. Kara is said to have played a role in the analysis, development and implementation of monetary and macroprudential policy in Turkey between 2003 and 2019.

Working as a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences at Bilkent University, Kara studies monetary economics, macroeconomics, central banking theory and policy, and the Turkish economy.

4. Rafet Gurkaynak

Professor at Bilkent University. Dr. Rafet Gürkaynak is known for his academic research in monetary policy, financial markets and macroeconomics. An important part of the new vision for the CHP economy, Gürkaynak has advised in the past, including important institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.

5. Ufuk Akchigit

Ufuk Akchigit is another economist who was represented and spoke at a meeting organized by the CHP. Akchigit, a macroeconomist, draws attention with his research on economic growth, production efficiency, competition, privatization, industrial policy, firm dynamics, human capital, and innovative economics. However, since the 1990s he has been studying the economic problems and persistent income disparities caused by the reunification of East and West Germany.

On the other hand, Akçigit is said to be doing important research at various research centers based in Washington DC, London and Munich. He is also known to have worked as a consultant for many important institutions and organizations in the past. These institutions include the Central Bank of Chicago, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the World Bank, the IMF, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.

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