India born Gita Gopinath, who is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram College, has been appointed as the Chief Economist at International Monetary Fund.
Gita Gopinath, who is the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University, has been appointed as the Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She will succeed Maurice Obstfeld. “Gita is one of the world’s outstanding economists, with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership, extensive international experience,” said Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of IMF in a press statement. The IMF which is headquartered in Washington D.C., is responsible for enforcing the international monetary system and promoting free global trade.
Dr. Gopinath was a B.A. (Hons.) Economics graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, who later when on to pursue a Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. She later completed her PhD. in Economics in Princeton University. She is the second Indian after Raguram Rajan to hold the post.
Congrats Prof Gita Gopinath, LSR alumna- IMF is fortunate to have you as its Chief Economist!! What a proud moment..more power to you. https://t.co/lhDkbTemqR
— LSR Alumna (@LSRELSA) October 1, 2018
IMF Managing Director Christine @Lagarde appoints Harvard’s Gita Gopinath as IMF Chief Economist, replacing Maury Obstfeld who will retire from IMF in December. https://t.co/M6UV5qH714 pic.twitter.com/k16ztkYIwi
— IMF (@IMFNews) October 1, 2018
Dr. Gopinath has had an illustrious career as a professor in University of Chicago for four years (2001-2005) and then at Harvard from 2005 onwards. Additionally, she has also been the Co-Director at National Bureau of Economic Research, an Economic Adviser to the CM of Kerala, and a Member of Eminent Persons Advisory Group on G-20 Matters in the Ministry of Finance, India. She is also the co-editor of the American Economic Review and the current Handbook of International Economics. Her areas of work have involved trade invoicing, bank funding, macroeconomics of border taxes, the international price system and fiscal devaluations, among others.
Dr. Gopinath’s achievement — as the first female IMF Chief Economist — is also indicative of a number of women occupying important positions in global policy forums. She will join the likes of Christine Lagarde, Kristalina Georgieva (CEO of World Bank), Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg (Chief Economist of World Bank) and Laurence Boon (Chief Economist of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Feature Image Credits: Livemint
Sara Sohail
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