Head of EU's Ecofin Council to head Research Institute of Finnish Economy

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Sixten Korkman, the Director-General of the Ecofin Council of the EU, will return to Finland after a long career in Brussels to head both the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA) and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA).
      Korkman’s term will begin in September when current ETLA Managing Director Pentti Vartia retires. Vartia has been at the helm of ETLA since 1983.
      ETLA is perhaps considered to be Finland’s most respected research institute, and its economic forecasts are widely quoted. EVA, which cooperates closely with ETLA, is best described as a think tank. Both are financed by the business community.
     
Korkman’s appointment emphasises ETLA’s role as a research institute, as Korkman has a strong research background. He is one of Finland’s best-known economists, and he has worked at the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Finland prior to his ten-year stint in Brussels.
      Last spring, Korkman applied for the post of Governor of the Bank of Finland, but lost the appointment to Erkki Liikanen.
      There have been plans to merge ETLA and EVA, but they have now been abandoned in order to avoid compromising the credibility of ETLA’s research.
     
Korkman has been one of the highest-ranking Finns in the EU hierarchy. He commented on Monday that Finland’s EU policy seems to have changed over the past few years.
      According to Korkman, Finland’s EU policy used to be regarded as pragmatic and clear, but now there has been some criticism that this is no longer the case.
      Korkman views his new role as head of ETLA and EVA as an interesting challenge. He plans to participate in discussions on globalisation and on the demands that an ageing population places on the welfare state and public sector.


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