Patrick Low

Patrick Low was the Chief Economist at the World Trade Organisation Secretariat and an honorary professor of international economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.^[1][2][3]

For a short interlude from 1999–2001, Low served as WTO Director-General Mike Moore's Chief of Staff. He has taught at Colegio de México and has been Adjunct Professor at the Kent State University Geneva Semester Programme since 1996. He holds a PhD in economics from Sussex University.^[4]

Low was optimistic that the financial crisis of 2007–08 would not be particularly harmful to the economy, stating "The turmoil in financial markets hasn't as yet really fed through as much as it might into the real economy."^[5] He predicted a general slowdown of the economy in 2011, but denied that his view was indicative of a recession, stating that "You may call it a slowdown, but I would say it’s a return to the normal trend."^[6] He remained pessimistic in 2013, when asked about the WTO's trade forecast for the year, noting the trade growth to GDP ratio had been 1:1 instead of a traditionally expected 2:1, but added "we would expect to see that relationship re-establish itself."^[7]

References

1. "WTO sees discrepancies in subsidy data". The New York Times. July 24, 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
2. "World Trade Study Says Export Growth May Slow Further". The New York Times. April 23, 1999. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
3. "The Graduate Institute - Faculty directory". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
4. "WTO People". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
5. "Growth of world trade drops sharply". Financial Express Bangladesh. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
6. Leung, Sophie (24 February 2011). "Global Trade Growth May Ease By Half This Year WTO's Low Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
7. Miles, Tom (10 April 2013). "WTO cuts 2013 trade forecast, sees protectionist threat". Reuters. Retrieved 22 July 2013.