The IMF economist loses his French star – Le Figaro

In office since 2008, Olivier Blanchard, aged 66, will leave the international institution in October to join the Peterson Institute research center.

Thomas Piketty and his colleagues Jean Tirole, Olivier Blanchard is one of those French economists to international stature. Arriving at the IMF during the financial crisis of 2008, he is leaving his chief economist positions in the International Monetary Fund. This specialist of 66 years will join the Peterson Institute Research Centre for International Economics.

“As one of macroeconomists in the world best, Olivier was ranked first in the response of the Fund the international financial crisis, triggering a fundamental overhaul of thought in macro-economy that still influences the business community and politics, “says the Executive Director of the Fund, Christine Lagarde, in a statement.

He will leave his post on September 30 without a successor has been appointed yet. In the last letter posted on his blog, he concludes with what could be the outcome of its action after a symposium on the theme “Rethinking economic policy: progress or confusion” “Progress is undeniable, he wrote. The confusion is inevitable given the complexity of the problems to be solved. “

While most economists welcomed its action in the IMF, but also during his tenure that the IMF has acknowledged underestimated the impact of budget cuts on economies in recession, particularly in Europe. In an interview with Wall Street Journal , Olivier Blanchard explains, “During the past eight years, I had to think about too many problems with too little time to be able to address them in depth. These eight years have been exciting, but now I want to sit down and stand back. “.