Paul Atkinson

Banking law advisor for AARO

PAUL ATKINSON held a number of positions at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for most of the period between 1981 and 2005, after which he affiliated for several years with the Groupe d’Economie Mondiale de Sciences Po in Paris. He worked primarily on macroeconomic policy issues, serving in various capacities including Secretary to the Group of 10 and editor of OECD Economic Outlook. In 2001 he became Deputy Director for OECD work on Science, Technology and Industry policy, overseeing analysis of enterprise issues, notably regarding SMEs. He is now semi-retired, writes occasionally about globalization and financial market issues, likes to travel, still skis when he can and lives with his wife in Paris.

Latest Insights by Paul Atkinson

Moving abroad? Some things to think about before relocating

Most Americans take their easy access to the global financial system for granted. They make and receive payments using their bank account or similar account at another financial institution as a matter of course. Most also maintain savings of various sorts, perhaps a 401k with an employer, an IRA with a bank or mutual funds or ETFs with some other financial institution. Some borrow significant amounts to finance investments like the purchase of a car or a home or just to spread the cost of large expenditures over months or years. And if they travel, online access to their account(s) and the plastic that is used every day to make payments in the United States nearly always serve their needs on foreign shores.