Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), today announced the appointment of Professor Harold James of Princeton University and Atish (Rex) Ghosh, Assistant Director in the Research Department, as the new IMF historians. They will replace retired historian James Boughton, and both will start in their new roles on May 2, 2016.
“Professor James and Mr. Ghosh will write the Fund’s official history from 2000 to 2015, a period characterized by the global financial crisis, the crisis in Europe, and the growing role of emerging and developing countries in the world economy -- all defining moments in the Fund’s history,” Ms. Lagarde said.
“Few people are better placed than Professor James to take on this challenge. He completed his undergraduate education at Cambridge University, and received his Ph.D. in 1982. He began teaching at Princeton University in 1986, and has written numerous books and articles on economic history, focusing on modern German history in the earlier part of his career. More recently, he has written extensively on the economic implications of globalization, drawing comparisons with previous episodes of globalization, including the one that ended with the Great Depression,” she added.
Prior to joining the Fund in 1994, Mr. Ghosh worked as an assistant professor at Princeton University. He holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University and a M.Sc. in development economics from Oxford University, He has written widely on topics ranging from capital flows to exchange rate management and has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University since 1997.
For the duration of his appointment as Fund historian, Professor James will retain his chair at Princeton, working part time at the Fund. Mr. Ghosh will work full time in his new role. Both will be based in the Strategy and Policy Review Department.
