Richard O'Brien (economist)
Encyclopedia
Richard O'Brien is an English economist, futurist, author and co-founding partner of Outsights
, an independent scenario planning
consultancy based in London.
(MA Hons. Philosophy, Politics and Economics
) and Edinburgh University
(Diploma in African Studies
), O'Brien worked at Rothschild Intercontinental Bank and American Express
Bank for 21 years. At American Express, he was Chief Economist
and Executive Director and Editor of The Amex Bank Review where he pioneered much of the new work on country risk
analysis in international finance
. O'Brien founded and managed the international economics essay competition, The Amex Bank Review Awards, in memory of EU architect Robert Marjolin
. During this time he also worked with the Group of Thirty
(G30) on regulation. O'Brien also authored and edited several books on the global economy
.
, an independent scenario planning consultancy, with Tim Bolderson. Prior to this, both O'Brien and Tim headed the London office of the Global Business Network
, where they completed large scale scenario planning projects such as The Future of Japan. O'Brien has led and developed scenarios for business and the UK Government in a wide range of sectors, including "The Future of the International Environment 2010-2020", and directing the Sigma Scan, an online database of future trends to 2050.
Outsights
Outsights is an independent scenario planning consultancy founded in 1998 by Richard O'Brien and Tim Bolderson. The company is based in Islington, London, with seven full time employees and 30 associates...
, an independent scenario planning
Scenario planning
Scenario planning, also called scenario thinking or scenario analysis, is a strategic planning method that some organizations use to make flexible long-term plans. It is in large part an adaptation and generalization of classic methods used by military intelligence.The original method was that a...
consultancy based in London.
Early life and work
After graduating from Oxford UniversityUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(MA Hons. Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
) and Edinburgh University
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(Diploma in African Studies
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
), O'Brien worked at Rothschild Intercontinental Bank and American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
Bank for 21 years. At American Express, he was Chief Economist
Chief economist
The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis...
and Executive Director and Editor of The Amex Bank Review where he pioneered much of the new work on country risk
Country risk
Country risk refers to the risk of investing in a country, dependent on changes in the business environment that may adversely affect operating profits or the value of assets in a specific country...
analysis in international finance
International finance
International finance is the branch of economics that studies the dynamics of exchange rates, foreign investment, global financial system, and how these affect international trade. It also studies international projects, international investments and capital flows, and trade deficits. It includes...
. O'Brien founded and managed the international economics essay competition, The Amex Bank Review Awards, in memory of EU architect Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin was a French economist and politician involved in the formation of the European Economic Community.-Early life and education:...
. During this time he also worked with the Group of Thirty
Group of Thirty
The Group of Thirty, often abbreviated to G30, is an international body of leading financiers and academics which aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues and to examine consequences of decisions made in the public and private sectors related to these issues...
(G30) on regulation. O'Brien also authored and edited several books on the global economy
World economy
The world economy, or global economy, generally refers to the economy, which is based on economies of all of the world's countries, national economies. Also global economy can be seen as the economy of global society and national economies – as economies of local societies, making the global one....
.
Later career
In 1998 O'Brien set up OutsightsOutsights
Outsights is an independent scenario planning consultancy founded in 1998 by Richard O'Brien and Tim Bolderson. The company is based in Islington, London, with seven full time employees and 30 associates...
, an independent scenario planning consultancy, with Tim Bolderson. Prior to this, both O'Brien and Tim headed the London office of the Global Business Network
Global Business Network
Global Business Network, or GBN, is a strategy consulting firm and member of Monitor Group, that helps businesses, NGOs, and governments use scenario planning to plan for multiple possible futures....
, where they completed large scale scenario planning projects such as The Future of Japan. O'Brien has led and developed scenarios for business and the UK Government in a wide range of sectors, including "The Future of the International Environment 2010-2020", and directing the Sigma Scan, an online database of future trends to 2050.
Publications
- The Geography of Finance: After the Storm, O'Brien, Keith, Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2009. ISSN 1752-1386 - The Future of the Global Economy, O'Brien, Keith, Prest, Outsights Ltd, 2009
- Corporate Governance, Financial Markets and Global Convergence, Balling, Hennessy, O'Brien, Springer (1997). ISBN 978-0792348252
- Risk Management in Volatile Financial Markets, Bruni, Fair, O'Brien, Allen, Springer (1996). ISBN 978-0792340539
- Finance and the International Economy 8. The Amex Bank Review Prize Essays, O'Brien (ed), Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1994. ISBN 0-19-828962-6 - Global Financial Integration: The End of Geography, O'Brien, Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
Press (1992). ISBN 978-0876091234 - Banking Perspectives on the Debt Crisis, Oxford Review of Economic PolicyOxford Review of Economic PolicyOxford Review of Economic Policy is a refereed journal which is published quarterly. Each issue concentrates on a current theme in economic policy, with a balance between macro- and microeconomics, and comprises an assessment and a number of articles. It gives a valuable appraisal of economic...
, 2: 25 - 38, 1986 - Private Bank Lending to Developing Countries: Past, Present and Future, O'Brien, World BankWorld BankThe World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
Staff Working Paper No. 482, World Bank, Washington, DC, 1981
Associations
O'Brien serves and has served on a number of governing councils, and has chaired several international competitions:- BBC World ChallengeThe World ChallengeThe World Challenge is a competition that was first hosted in 2005 by BBC and sponsored by Newsweek and Shell. It accepts projects from around the world that deal with social, environmental and community issues and uses business methods to try to improve upon those issues in the world.- The 2005...
- Shell/Economist Writing Prize
- The Annual Register
- Royal Institute of International Affairs
- Society of Business EconomistsSociety of Business EconomistsThe Society of Business Economists is an organisation serving business economists in the UK. It publishes the journal The Business Economist .Notable members include:*Vicky Pryce*DeAnne Julius*Lord Burns*Richard O'Brien*Andrew Sentance...
- Royal Economic SocietyRoyal Economic SocietyThe Royal Economic Society is incorporated by a Royal Charter dated 2 December 1902. It is one of the oldest economic associations in the world. Currently it has over 3,300 individual members, of whom 60% live outside the United Kingdom...