Professor Kaushik Basu Appointed As President Elect of IEA
Professor Kaushik Basu Appointed As President Elect of IEA
The International Economic Association/IEA has just selected Kaushik Basu as the president-elect. Basu is currently the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of WB (World Bank). IEA is an important association of professional economists which has played a leading role in the formation of economic policy and the direction of basic as well as applied research in this area.
"The International Economic Association (IEA) has appointed Professor Kaushik Basu as president-elect of the Association beginning September 2014. He will continue serving as Senior Vice President and World Bank Chief Economist, a job he started on October 1, 2012," Mr Basu's senior communication official Merrell J.Tuck-Primdahl has been quoted as saying in s statement.
A chief economist of the WB has a tenure of 4 years. Professor Basu took leave from Cornell University where he is currently the Professor of Economics and the C. Marks Professor of International Studies to join World Bank.
Past presidents of the IEA have been luminaries in their field. This includes renowned economists such as Robert Solow, Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz. Following Amarta Sen, this is the second time an Indian has been selected as the head of he association. IEA produces a lot of information and research documents and reports in the field of basic and applied economics. It also organises talks on contemporary issues within this discipline.
The association also organised an International Congress every three years. This is one of the largest and most anticipated events from economists across the globe. The 2014 Congress is slated to be held at Jordan's Dead Sea. Prior to this, the 16th Congress was at Beijing, China in the year 2011.
Basu also holds numerous other important positions. He is currently the 4th President of Human Development and Capabilities Association. He is also a member of the Board of Directors at EXIM Bank in India. In the month of May in 2008, the professor was also awarded a Padma Bhushan by the president of India. From December in 2009 to the month of July in 2012, Basu was also the Chief Economic Advisor to GoI's Union Ministry of Finance. A columnist for BBC Online and Business Standard along with The Hindustan Times. Basu has also authored several key books in economics.
The International Economic Association founded in the year 1950 is an non-governmental organisation which was formed following support from the Social Sciences Department at UNESCO. Aiming to promote a deeper and mutual understanding of economics, this association has several prominent economists as its members.
With this appointment, another Indian will now be heading a global organisation. With many award and accolades to his credit, Kaushik Basu has just gained one more honor among many.
