IMF taps White House adviser for chief economist role
The International Monetary Fund has appointed Maurice Obstfeld as chief economist, to start in September.
Obstfelt was a member of US President Barrack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, and has written two textbooks on international economics.
The economist replaces the retiring Olivier Blanchard.
In a statement IMF managing director Christine Lagarde praised Obstfelt and said he was one of the most influential economists in the world.
“The position of Economic Counsellor is of fundamental importance to the IMF’s ability to provide its global membership with the best possible independent analysis and policy advice. I am confident that we have found an exceptional candidate in Maurice to take this work forward,” Lagarde said.
Blanchard has a strong academic background and was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His PhD is from MIT.