Gita Gopinath is the first female chief economist in IMF history (Social Media)
Business News: Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath, the second-highest-ranking official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is set to return to academia. She will rejoin the Harvard Economics Department on September 1 as the first-ever Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics.
In a message shared on social media platform X, Gopinath said, “After nearly seven amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots.” She expressed deep gratitude for her tenure at the IMF, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve during a time of extraordinary global challenges.
Gopinath joined the IMF as Chief Economist in 2019, becoming the first woman to hold that position. In 2022, she was promoted to the post of First Deputy Managing Director, becoming the No. 2 official in the organization.
During her tenure, she led critical research and policymaking work on fiscal policy, monetary policy, international trade, and debt analysis. She was a key figure in multilateral discussions, representing the IMF at global platforms like the G-7 and G-20 meetings.
One of Gopinath’s major contributions was ensuring that the World Economic Outlook remained a top source for global economic analysis, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also co-authored the IMF’s ‘Pandemic Plan,’ offering a detailed strategy to end the crisis by promoting global vaccination targets at feasible costs.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva praised Gita Gopinath as an “outstanding colleague, an exceptional intellectual leader, and a remarkable manager.” She highlighted Gopinath’s unwavering commitment to the IMF’s mission and her strong dedication to supporting both staff and member countries through challenging global events.
Before joining the IMF, Gopinath was part of the Harvard Economics Department from 2005 to 2022, where she held the John Zwaanstra Professorship in International Studies and Economics. Earlier, she taught at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business from 2001 to 2005.
As she prepares to return to academia, Gopinath said she looks forward to advancing research in international finance and macroeconomics and to training the next generation of economists.
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