CBR Senior Research Associate
My research interests include macroeconomics themes: stock-flow consistent modelling, sector balances, productivity analysis; and historic data: reconstruction of long-run sectoral flow data from UK national accounts.
Professional experience
Bill Martin’s early career was spent in the Government Economic Service, where he advised on macroeconomic and industrial policies. In 1981, he became a Special Adviser in the Central Policy Review Staff, better known as Whitehall’s Cabinet Office ‘Think Tank’. Between 1983 and 1998, he held various senior roles, including that of Chief UK Economist, at the investment-banking arm of the Swiss bank UBS (formerly Phillips & Drew). Between 1986 and 1997, he also acted as a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Committee. He was appointed Chief Economist of the fund management arm of UBS in 1998 and held the position of Visiting Professor of London Guildhall University until 2003. Since leaving UBS in 2004, he has worked on a variety of projects, including academic papers on macroeconomic theory and official statistics. He was a member of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Consumer Panel between 2009 and 2015 and continues to advise the Economic Policy Committee of Make UK, the Manufacturers’ Organisation.
Publications
- Selected publications
- Journal articles
- Books, monographs, reports and case studies
- Book chapters
- Working papers
Selected publications
- Martin, B. (2024) “You really never had it so good, or why Britain’s post-war national accounts could lead you astray.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.541. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2022) “Rudimentary inflation conflict models: a note.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.535. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2020) “Resurrecting the UK corporate sector accounts.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.519. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2019) “Resurrecting the UK sector national accounts after 1945.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.514. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. and Rowthorn, R. (2013) Can intangible investment explain the UK productivity puzzle? A response and comment. Cambridge: Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. and Rowthorn, R. (2012) Is the British economy supply constrained II? A renewed critique of productivity pessimism. Cambridge: UK~IRC.
Journal articles
- Martin, B. (2009) “Resurrecting the U.K. historic sector national accounts’.” Review of Income and Wealth, 55(3): 737-751 (DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4991.2009.00342.x) (Download the related dataset)
- Martin, B. (2009) “We’re between a rock and a hard place, and need a soft pound.” The Observer, 23 August 2009
- Martin, B. (2008) “Fiscal policy in a stock-flow consistent model: a comment.” Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, 30(4): 649-667 (DOI: 10.2753/PKE0160-3477300408)
- Martin, B. (2007) “The puzzle behind Britain’s lamentable statistics.” Financial Times, 23 February 2007
- Martin, W.E. and Rowthorn, R. (2005) “Accounting for stability.” CESifo Economic Studies, 51(4): 649-696 (DOI: 10.1093/cesifo/51.4.649)
- Lund, P.J., Martin, W.E. and Bennett, A.G.G. (1980) “Price expectations and their role in the analysis of the UK Department of Industry’s investment intentions inquiries.” Journal of Industrial Economics, 28(3): 225-239
Books, monographs, reports and case studies
- Martin, B. and Rowthorn, R. (2013) Can intangible investment explain the UK productivity puzzle? A response and comment. Cambridge: Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. and Rowthorn, R. (2012) Is the British economy supply constrained II? A renewed critique of productivity pessimism. Cambridge: UK~IRC.
- Martin, B. and Rowthorn, R. (2011) Is the British economy supply constrained? A critique of productivity pessimism. Cambridge: UK~IRC.
- Martin, B. (2011) Rebalancing in the dark. Cambridge: Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge. (Subheadings refer to PowerPoint slides available online)
- Martin, B. (2010) Rebalancing the British economy: a strategic assessment. Cambridge: UK~IRC.
- Martin, B. (2007) UK historic sector national accounts. Memorandum to The Statistics Commission, 12 March 2007
Access the Statistics Commission’s response, along with a covering letter to Bill Martin, dated 20 June 2007. See also an archive of statscom.org.uk/S_19.aspx - Martin, W.E. (ed.) (1981) The economics of the profits crisis. London: HMSO.
Book chapters
- Martin, B. (2011) “A new look at new Cambridge: will the UK private expenditure function stand up?” In: Papadimitriou, D. and Zezza, G. (eds.) Contributions to stock-flow modelling: essays in honour of Wynne Godley. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Working papers
- Martin, B. (2024) “You really never had it so good, or why Britain’s post-war national accounts could lead you astray.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.541. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2022) “Rudimentary inflation conflict models: a note.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.535. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2020) “Resurrecting the UK corporate sector accounts.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.519. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2019) “Resurrecting the UK sector national accounts after 1945.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.514. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2018) “A comment on Oulton, ‘The UK productivity puzzle: does Arthur Lewis hold the key?’” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.498. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2009) “An augmented UK private expenditure function.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.384. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
- Martin, B. (2007) “Resurrecting the UK historic sector national accounts.” Centre for Business Research (CBR) Working Papers, No.356. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.