Meet Our New Faculty Member – Professor Steven Barnett
Professor Steven Barnett is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and has joined HKU Business School with over 25 years of senior leadership in international economic policy. Most notably, he spent 28 years at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he served as the Senior Resident Representative in China—essentially the IMF’s “ambassador” to China. His academic background is equally distinguished, holding a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, along with both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University.
Professor Barnett’s expertise and research focus on policy-relevant macroeconomics, with a particular emphasis on China. He is dedicated to framing economic issues, such as consumption in China. While the country has experienced the fastest-growing consumption in the world, it still accounts for a disproportionately low share of its GDP. He seeks to provide the analytical foundation necessary for policies that can increase consumption’s share of GDP and effectively boost productivity and living standards globally.
In the classroom, his teaching philosophy is making it real. He begins his classes with a vision statement: “Macro matters,” emphasizing that the study of economics ultimately impacts the quality of people’s lives, rather than just abstract graphs or numbers. Drawing on his extensive experience at the IMF, he illustrates how sound macroeconomic policies can lead to significant gains in living standards, while policy failures can have substantial human costs. He encourages his students to persevere through academic challenges, sharing the principle that reward equals effort.
Outside of his academic and research pursuits, Prof. Barnett is a dedicated athlete who relieves stress through daily exercise. He often hikes to The Peak with his wife, enjoying the contrast between the forest trails and the city skyline. Whether engaging with corporate leaders, policy makers, journalists, or students, Professor Barnett remains committed to the idea that a better understanding of the macroeconomy leads to better policy and a more prosperous society.