Harvard Professor Gita Gopinath Appointed IMF Chief Economist

India-born Gita Gopinath, a professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University, has been appointed International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Economist, according to a tweet by IMF.

Gopinath, whose research focuses on international finance, macroeconomics, will succeed Maurice (Maury) Obstfeld, who would retire at the end of 2018, the IMF said.

She is the second Indian economist to be appointed as IMF chief economist after Raghuram Rajan, who later served as Reserve Bank Governor.

“Gita Gopinath is an outstanding economist, with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership, and extensive international experience. I am delighted to name such a talented figure as the IMF’s Chief Economist,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said in the press statement.

In 2016, Gopinath’s appointment as financial advisor to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had generated a lot of controversy with some communist leaders questioning the CPM-led state government’s decision to rope in a person who was more into market economy and liberal policies.

Gopinath was born and grew up in India. After graduating from Delhi University, did her MA from both the Delhi School of Economics and University of Washington. She holds a PhD in Economics from Princeton University.

She has served as member on G20 finance ministry matters. She was an assistant professor of Economics at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business before joining Harvard.

She had previously worked as a co-director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She was also the co-editor of The American Economic Review and the current Handbook of International Economics.

She was also named among top 25 economists under 45 by the IMF in 2014.