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Gita Gopinath sworn in as IMF's first female chief economist
Gita, an Indian-American economist has also served India as a former economic adviser to the Kerala government and in October 2018, was appointed as the chief economist of IMF.
United Nations: Harvard economist Gita Gopinath, on Tuesday has taken up the opportunity to serve International Monetary Fund (IMF) as its first female chief economist in a time of global financial uncertainty.
Gita, an Indian-American economist has also served India as a former economic adviser to the Kerala government and in October 2018, was appointed as the chief economist of IMF.
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With her appointment to the worlds biggest institutions, the world economy comes under the dominance of four women, controlling the global economic sphere -- her boss and IMF's Managing Director Christine Lagarde, World Bank's chief economist Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, and Kristalina Georgieva, the Bank's CEO who will become its interim President next month.
On economic front, they confront the confluence of a retreat from globalization, a trade war between China and the US, uncertainties in Europe over Brexit, weakening of several currencies against the dollar and the growing inequalities between nations and within countries.
In October 2018, when IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde appointed Gita with formal title of Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF's Research Department, she had words of praise for her,
"one of the world's outstanding economists, with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership, and extensive international experience."
"All this makes her exceptionally well-placed to lead our Research Department at this important juncture. I am delighted to name such a talented figure as our Chief Economist," Lagarde had said in her speech.
Before coming to the IMF, where she succeeded Maurice Obstfeld, Gopinath was the professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.
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She was concurrently appointed in 2016 as the economic adviser to Kerala Chief Minister with the rank of principal secretary.
She has also served as a member of the Eminent Persons Advisory Group on G-20 Matters for the Indian Ministry of Finance.
In addition to helping formulate policies for the IMF and set strategies and evaluate performance of nations, she will oversee the World Economic Outlook Report that is considered a major survey of the global economy.
A significant aspect of her position will be helping set the conditions for countries seeking bailouts from the IMF. Often the terms call for stringent financial regulations and unpopular belt-tightening for the recipients.
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A graduate of Lady Sri Ram College in New Delhi, Gopinath received her MA degree from the Delhi School of Economics.
She went on to Princeton University from where she got her Ph.D in economics in 2001 for her work on international macroeconomics and trade.
Gopinath was an assistant professor at University of Chicago before moving to Harvard in 2005. She received the Bhagwati Prize for the best paper published in the Journal of International Economics in 2003 and 2004.
In 2014, she was named one of the top 25 economists under 45 by the IMF and was a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2011.
Her extensive research and writings include a critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetization in 2016.
Pointing out the havoc demonetization had created, she had written in one of her writings that the government "seems to be causing collateral damage to India's economy."
