David Walton (economist)

{{Short description|British economist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}

David Robert Walton (30 May 1963 – 21 June 2006) was a British economist, and a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee from July 2005 until his death in June 2006.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/david-walton-405087.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722142744/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/david-walton-405087.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=22 July 2011| title=David Walton: Powerhouse City economist| date=23 June 2006| work=The Independent | location=London}}

Walton gained a BA in economics and politics with first class honours at Van Mildert College, Durham University in 1984. After graduating Walton took a position at HM Treasury working as an economist. He held this position until 1986 when he left to pursue an MA in economics at University of Warwick, in which he gained a distinction. He joined the economics team at Goldman Sachs in 1987. In 2003 he was appointed as their chief European economist and as the chairman of the Society of Business Economists. In 2005 became a visiting research professor at the University of Oxford's economics department, and joined the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

David Walton died on 21 June 2006 after contracting necrotising fasciitis, possibly occurring from the urinary tract.{{cite news| url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/flesh-eating-bug-killed-top-economist-in-24-hours-7176529.html | work=Evening Standard|location=London | title=Flesh-eating bug killed top economist in 24 hours | first=Olinka | last=Koster | date=11 January 2007}} In his final meeting, Walton was the only member preferring an increase in the interest rate, the other seven members voting to maintain the rate at 4.5%.[http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/minutes/mpc/pdf/2006/mpc0606.pdf Minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on 7-8 June 2006] Walton had also been the only member supporting such an increase in the previous month's meeting.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/minutes/mpc/pdf/2006/mpc0605.pdf |title=Minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee Meeting held on 3 and 4 May 2006 |access-date=7 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811003544/http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/minutes/mpc/pdf/2006/mpc0605.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}