Professor Emeritus Roberto S. Mariano
Founding Dean
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Roberto S. Mariano, founding Dean of SMU’s School of Economics, on 17 April 2025.
He served as Dean, SMU School of Economics from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2010. Professor Mariano was a visionary leader who played a crucial role in the development of SMU, shaping the School and its community.
Today, we have a strong faculty, committed staff, outstanding students, a growing and supportive alumni base, and wide industry connections. Many of our Economics faculty are among the very best in the world, recognized internationally for their academic-excellence. Thanks to Professor Mariano's many connections in the academic world, SOE has been host to many distinguished visitors and a variety of global conferences.
Professor Mariano's work was also important to the establishment of the Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics, which remains as one of SMU's key interdisciplinary research centres. Under his stellar leadership as Director of SKBI (2008 to June 2010), the Institute initiated and spearheaded numerous conferences, seminars and symposiums on REITs and real estate, corporate governance, silver security and longevity risk.
In addition, SOE and SKBI successfully hosted the annual Far Eastern and South Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society meeting (FEMES) in 2008 during Professor Mariano's deanship. The program consisted of plenary, invited and contributed sessions in all fields of economics.
With an illustrious career spanning three decades, Professor Mariano brought with him a wealth of experience in the corporate and public sectors as well as in academia. He was with the Economics faculty of the University of Pennsylvania since 1971 and he had held visiting positions in various academic institutions in the US , Europe and Asia . He authored numerous research papers and books on econometric methodology and applications and served on the editorial board of several international professional journals in economics and statistics. He was the principal investigator in research projects funded by the United Nations, US National Science Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture. With a focus on econometric modeling for forecasting and policy analysis, he was a consultant to various central banks, government ministries, and stock exchanges in Asia as well as private companies in Asia and the US .
In Singapore, he had worked on a research project for the Ministry of Manpower entitled "Macroeconometric Sectoral Modeling for Manpower Planning in Singapore" from 2000 to 2002 where he was the principal investigator with Nobel Laureate Lawrence R. Klein. Within the region, he was principal investigator of two major research projects, namely one for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (the Central Bank of the Philippines) on "Macromodeling for Inflation Targeting in the Philippines" and another for Bank Negara Malaysia (the Central Bank of Malaysia) on "Macroeconometric Modeling for Monetary and Fiscal Policy in Malaysia".
Professor Mariano also formed a research team of Economics faculty in SMU to join the ASEAN+3 research consortium - with "Toward Greater Financial Stability in the Asian Region: Exploring Steps to Create Regional Monetary Units" as the research theme for 2006-07. Research findings and policy recommendations of the research consortium were relayed through the ASEAN Secretariat for policy guidance to the Finance Ministries and Central Banks in Southeast Asia.
Professor Mariano's mark on the University as well as his impact on public policy and the business world will be felt for generations, and all of us are grateful to him for the work that he had done to turn ideas into reality.
Professor Jia LI
Dean, School of Economics
Dear Students,
Welcome to the School of Economics at Singapore Management University (SMU)!
Whether you are beginning your undergraduate studies, pursuing advanced knowledge through our Masters programmes, or engaging in groundbreaking research at the doctoral level, I extend a heartfelt welcome to each of you.
At the School of Economics, we are dedicated to offering an education that transcends geographical and intellectual boundaries. Our programmes are designed not only to equip you with a deep understanding of economic principles but also to cultivate a global perspective that is essential in today's interconnected world. Through rigorous academic inquiry and practical learning experiences, you will develop the skills needed to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation across disciplines.
Our esteemed faculty members are leaders in their fields, committed to nurturing your intellectual curiosity and preparing you to make meaningful contributions to society. As you navigate your academic journey at SMU, you will have opportunities to engage in research collaborations, participate in internships with industry partners, and explore diverse perspectives that will enrich your learning experience.
I encourage each of you to embrace the diversity of our community and to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available at SMU. Whether you are exploring new ideas in the classroom, collaborating on projects with peers from around the world, or participating in extracurricular activities, your time here will be transformative.
Together, let us strive to make a positive impact on the global stage through the lens of economics and beyond. I am excited to witness your growth and achievements during your time at SMU.
Welcome once again to the School of Economics at SMU. Here's to an inspiring journey of discovery and innovation ahead!
Warm regards,
Professor Jia LI
Dean, School of Economics
Singapore Management University
The School of Economics and Social Sciences was established on 1 July 2002 to launch the Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree programme in Economics, and subsequently the Bachelor of Social Science undergraduate degree programme majoring in Psychology, Sociology, or Political Science.
In April 2007, the School of Economics and the School of Social Sciences were established as separate schools to better focus on the development of the undergraduate and graduate curricula and programmes, as well as faculty research in the respective disciplines.
Today, the School of Economics has a total of 51 full-time faculty with extensive experience from around the world. It has an enrolment of more than 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and offers the following degree programmes:
- Bachelor of Science in Economics,
- Master of Science in Economics,
- Master of Science in Financial Economics,
- Master of Philosophy in Economics, and
- PhD in Economics.
The mission of the School of Economics is to accelerate the growth of SMU by creating a world-class centre of research and teaching in economics. Economic research forms a key factor in the development of SMU as a foremost academic institution in generating cutting-edge research with global impact and producing broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy.
