Economist | Researcher | Leader |
& Policy Enthusiast
I have been shaping economic policy in Australia and Malaysia for around two decades, as an economist, policy analyst and advisor, academic, commentator, researcher and director
About Me
EXPERIENCE
Deputy Director of Research, IDEAS Malaysia
Assistant Director, Analyst and Policy Advisor
Australian Government Treasury
Research Consultant
World Bank Group
Economist, Southeast Asia Desk OECD
Contributor, CNA
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Economics (Australian National University and Universiti Malaya)
Master of Advanced Studies (ANU)
Bachelor of Economics/ Bachelor of Psychology
Collection of Coursera badges for coding and data analysis
SKILLS
Research and analysis
Policy development
Problem solving
Writing and editing
Econometric modelling
Data analysis and visuals
Leading and teaching
Innovation and adaptability
Stakeholder collaboration and client engagement
Enthusiastic amateur coder and language learner
Publications
Collected works from my outward-facing career endeavours
Papers, Essays and Reports
- Advancing Outcomes for Children with Autism through Educator Training
- Decoding the United States on Tariffs and Trade
- Evidencing Migration Policy Influence on Migration Inflows into Malaysia
- ‘Recalibrating Trade Architecture’ in ASEAN in 2025: Shaping an inclusive and sustainable future (with Rebecca Sta Maria)
- Of Rice and Men: Rice Consumption-Based Estimates of Undocumented Persons in Malaysia
- ‘FDI and Migration Policies: Regional Snapshot’ in Deepening Linkages between South and Southeast Asia
- COVID-19 Policy isn’t ‘health versus economy’ and developed economies weren’t better prepared
- Global Integration Is More Important than Ever to Contain the Economic and Health Fallout and Exit the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis
- Malaysia’s middling, misdirected economic management
- Malaysia 2019: Economy, Politics and Australian Relations
- Boosting Productivity in Malaysia
- Fostering Inclusive Growth in Malaysia
- OECD Economic Surveys: Malaysia 2016
Press articles/commentaries
- The ART of the Deal lost in US-Malaysia Pact
- The View from Asia on U.S. Tariffs and Trade
- Malaysia’s Budget 2026 could have done more to answer its own warnings about the future
- Conflicting mandates dilute effectiveness of our retirement pension scheme
- Coherent SST reform requires zero exemptions for policymakers
- Repeated shocks risk trade exiting the system (Sun version; Malay version: Pertahan tadbir urus perdagangan global, bebas ancaman tarif)
- Malaysia can weather the Trump tariff storm
- Is Langkawi travel bubble the start of Malaysia’s broader travel reopening?
- Australia needs a diaspora census
- Malaysia is down but not out
- Resurgent pandemic sparks unemployment crisis among Malaysia’s most vulnerable workers
- Connecting Singapore and Malaysia without an HSR challenging but alternatives should be explored
- Malaysia must rethink its labour market to be truly high-income
- KL-Singapore HSR termination risks Malaysia falling behind on transport connectivity
- What struggling Malaysians need from this Budget is a stronger safety net – and higher taxes
- Handling COVID-19 isn’t a trade-off between health and economy
- Optimising Australia’s COVID-19 border policy
- Malaysia goes slow on COVID-19 reopening for good reason
- COVID-19: Langkah Malaysia buka ekonomi sewajarnya dicontohi – Penganalisis ekonomi Australia
- Malaysia succeeded in suppressing COVID-19 but here comes the harder part
- Malaysia beats brutal COVID-19 expectations
- Can Malaysia’s stimulus package revive the economy in the absence of reform?
- Malaysia’s myriad reform challenges await action
- Tightening the belt and road in Malaysia
- Still a long, hard road to Malaysian prosperity
- Singapore-Malaysia Relations in Troubled Waters
- Crunch Time for Malaysia on Economic Reform
Media statements/appearances/blog posts
- IDEAS: IDEAS and IAC Highlight the Benefits of Teacher Training and Further Opportunities to Support Autism Education in Malaysia
- IDEAS: US Pact Undercuts Malaysia’s Regional Partnerships and Neutrality while Delivering Little Reassurance for Businesses
- IDEAS: Budget 2026 Balances Pressures Prudently but Lacks Serious Fiscal Reform
- IDEAS: The real concern is informal trade (video)
- IDEAS: Phased But Rapid Carbon Pricing Needed to Decarbonise Malaysia’s Steel Sector, Moving Towards RM200/tCO₂
- IDEAS: Latest Tariff Announcement Adds to Uncertainty and US Retreat from Rules-Based Trade
- OTT: A newcomer’s reflections on the OTT conference 2025
- NST Beyond the Headlines: US tariff hike & OPR cut (video)
- IDEAS: Malaysia Must Respond to US Tariff Pressures with Clarity and Consistency
- AWANI Tonight: Wall Street ends sharply lower amid Trump’s rant against Powell (video)
- CNA: Malaysia hopes to revive regional freight rail service (video)
- IDEAS: Malaysia Must Stay the Course Amid Rising US Tariffs and Global Economic Uncertainty
Data
My PhD thesis included the development of novel datasets, including historical quantitative indicators for migration and foreign direct investment (FDI) policies in Australia and Malaysia. Academics and other researchers are encouraged to find additional uses for this data, subject to an appropriate attribution. Unlisted data available on request
E.g.: Nixon, Stewart (2024). ‘Malaysia FDI policy indicators’, <www.stewartnixon.com>, viewed [date].
; DATA only dta on request 
)
Stewart Nixon PhD 