India-born Gita Gopinath appointed IMF chief economist

Economist Gita Gopinath was appointed as International Monetary Fund's chief economist on Monday, the IMF said in a statement. 

Gopinath will assume office at the end of 2018 after her predecessor Maurice (Maury) Obstfeld retires, news agency PTI reported.

Born on December 8, 1971, in Kolkata, 46-year-old Gopinath went to the University of Delhi for her Bachelors and Masters degree in economics after which she went on to earn her PhD in economics from Princeton University in 2001. She also has a Masters degree in economics from the University of Washington.  

"Her research focuses on International Finance and Macroeconomics. She is co-director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics program at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, member of the economic advisory panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Economic Adviser to the Chief Minister of Kerala state (India), co-editor of the American Economic Review, co-editor of the current Handbook of International Economics and was managing editor of the Review of Economic Studies," her profile reads on Harvard University's official website.

Gopinath also served as a member of the Eminent Persons Advisory Group on G-20 Matters for India's Ministry of Finance. In 2018 she was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2014, she was named one of the top 25 economists under 45 by the IMF and she was chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011. 

She also served as the Economic Adviser to Chief Minister of Kerala State, India.

At present, Gopinath serves as the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.

"Gopinath is one of the world's outstanding economists, with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership, and extensive international experience," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.