Gita Gopinath takes over as IMF chief economist
United Nations: Eminent academic and former economic adviser to the Kerala government, Gita Gopinath has taken over as the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) chief economist in a time of global financial uncertainty.
In a sign of growing women power, she joins a select group of four women who will dominate 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. They confront the confluence of a retreat from globalisation, 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.
When Lagarde announced in October Gopinath’s appointment with formal title of Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department, she called 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 said.
Before coming to the IMF, where she succeeded Maurice Obstfeld, Gopinath was the professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.
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.