Peter A.G. van Bergeijk


Peter A.G. van BergeijkPeter A.G. van Bergeijk is Professor of International Economics and Macroeconomics at the Institute of Social Studies (Erasmus University) . His research interests in the field of international economics include economic sanctions, diplomacy, development, competition policy regimes and trade uncertainty. His most recent books include Sustainable Development Goals and Income in Equality (co-edited with Rolph van der Hoeven, Edward Elgar 2017) and Research Handbook of Economic Diplomacy (co-edited with Selwyn Moons, Edward Elgar 2017) Articles have appeared amongst others in Ecological Economics, Journal of Peace Research, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, and World Development. Bergeijk has a Ph.D. in International Economics from Groningen University and a MA in theoretical economics from Erasmus University, where he was a Professor of Economic Policy in the Research Centre for Economic Policy (1998–2004). He was a Visiting Professor in Monetary Policy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland (1999-2001). Bergeijk has been strongly involved in policy making and banking. He served several high ranking functions in economic diplomacy including the Bureau of the OECD’s EPC Working Party 1 (2007-2009), the steering committee of the EU’s ECN chief competition economist network (2004-2006) and the EU’s Monetary Committee (1997-1999). He was a Chief Economist at the Dutch competition authority NMa (2001-2006) and the Directorate General for International Economic relations (2006-2009). Previous positions include Director of the Monetary and Economic Policy department of De Nederlandsche Bank NV (Central Bank) (1997-1999) and Director of UBS Group Economic Research, Zurich, Switzerland (1999-2001).




Papers Published in World Economics:


Making Data Measurement Errors Transparent: The Case of the IMF

In 1950 Morgenstern pointed out that absolute precision and certainty are impossible in economic observations, but estimates are often hampered by a substantial degree of measurement error. Unlike the natural sciences, economists in general do not report measurement errors for the key concepts such as prices, value or production that it seeks to define, measure and explain. For most macroeconomic concepts two approaches are available: the Implicit Minimal Measurement Error and the Maximum Ratio. Studying different vintages of the IMF World Economic Outlook data base it was found that the estimates on average have an implicit minimal measurement error of 4.3% and maximum ratio of 17.9%. An agenda is proposed for removing disincentives (creating incentives) for stakeholders (academics, data collectors and producers) since reporting measurement error will result in better research, better policy and ultimately better data.

Read Full Paper >