NBER Development Economics Program Director Transition

From: James Poterba <poterba_at_nber.org>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:10:51 -0500

Dear Development Economics Program Members -

I am very grateful to the many program members who have spoken with me
since Duncan Thomas announced last summer that he was ready to pass the
baton of program leadership.  I have learned a great deal about the
factors that have contributed to the program's success and about the
exciting research agendas that DEV program affiliates are currently
pursuing.

I am delighted to announce that Seema Jayachandran and Ben Olken have
agreed to serve as co-directors of the Development Economics Program,
effective in January.  Both are wide-ranging scholars with a deep
commitment to the field.  Seema's  research touches on health,
environmental policy, entrepreneurship, and gender issues.  She is a
Professor of Economics at Northwestern, and she has been an NBER
affiliate since 2007.  Ben, a Professor of Economics at MIT, studies
corruption, climate, and tax and transfer design.  He has been an NBER
affiliate since 2009.   Both have been very active in the DEV program,
and I look forward to working with them to build on the program's past
successes and to launch new initiatives.  Please welcome them to their
new roles.

I also hope that you will join me at the program meeting dinner on
Friday, November 30, 2018 -- a week from this Friday -- in Cambridge. 
At that dinner, we will have an opportunity to thank Duncan for his
service as founding program director.  I look forward to seeing you
there; all best wishes and Happy Thanksgiving.

Jim Poterba
Received on Tue Nov 20 2018 - 13:12:32 EST