Andrew Charlton

Andrew Charlton is an Australian author, economist and political advisor, who is best known for his insightful books on the rapidly changing global economy and his contributions to public policy. His most famous works include Quarterly Essay 54, “Minefields and Miracles: How Australia Avoiding the Global Economic Crisis”, “The Secret Life of Money: Understanding the Power of Global Currency” and “What Australia Can Learn from the Sonoran Desert: Lessons for the Global Economy”.

Andrew Charlton was born in Sydney, Australia in 1975 and was exposed to politics and international affairs from an early age thanks to his parents, who were both diplomats. After studying at several universities, he completed his Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Oxford. His career in politics began in 1999 when he joined the office of the then-leader of the opposition, Kim Beazley. There, he served as a political advisor, overseeing the election manifestos and developing policy initiatives.

In 2003, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard. He served in this role until after the 2007 election, at which point he left public service and moved to the private sector. He has since held several positions within the corporate world, including a senior adviser to the World Bank and managing director at Sinclair Knight Merz.

As his expertise in advising on policy matters, Charlton has written extensively on global economic and social issues. In 2009, he published Quarterly Essay 54, “Minefields and Miracles: How Australia Avoided the Global Economic Crisis”, which received international recognition, winning the Brisbane-Brisbane Prize for economics that same year. In this book, he argued that there was a need for greater economic stability and that the key to preventing economic crises was for governments to diversify their sources of capital and their sources of demand for goods and services, as well as risk management strategies.

In 2010, Charlton published his second book “The Secret Life of Money: Understanding the Power of Global Currency”. In this book, he looked at the origins and history of money and the impact that global economic trends and policies have had on currency fluctuations. He argued that, if managed correctly, currency can provide stability and growth and can be used to tackle international poverty.

In 2007, Charlton co-edited the book “What Australia Can Learn from the Sonoran Desert: Lessons for the Global Economy”. In this book, Charlton and his co-authors examined the complex issues of global economic change and argued that citizens, governments and businesses must all come together to create a more secure and prosperous future. The book was praised by the academic community and was awarded a runner-up prize in the 2008 Chilean-American Book Awards.

Andrew Charlton’s work as an economist and political advisor has had a real and lasting impact on public policy both domestically in Australia and internationally. His insightful books have earned him a wide audience and his writings are regularly featured in international publications. His work highlights the need for governments to ensure that the economic environment is stable and secure, and emphasizes the importance of economic cooperation between nations.