Maurice Obstfeld replaces Olivier Blanchard as International Monetary Fund’s new chief economist
Maurice Obstfeld replaces Olivier Blanchard as International Monetary Fund’s new chief economist
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced the successor to retiring chief economist Olivier Blanchard. Its new chief economist will be Maurice Obstfeld, taking over the role as director of the IMF’s research department in September.
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde commented that she was “thrilled” about the appointment:
“His outstanding academic credentials and extensive international experience make him exceptionally well placed to provide intellectual leadership to the IMF at this important juncture.”
Currently on US President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, Maurice Obstfeld is a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and has advised many governments and central banks, with optimal currency areas as a particular area of expertise.