International Law

Beijing University Professor Named As World Bank Chief Economist

By Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Greater economic understanding of developing countries, Africa, seen as main benefits
By Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Washington, February 8th ? Justin Lin Yifu, of Beijing University China Center for Economic Research, has just been named Chief Economist of the World Bank , the first time a Chinese national has held the position.

Professor Lin was born in 1952 in Taiwan, received a master’s degree from Beijing University, a MBA degree from National Chengchi University, and received a doctorate of economics from the University of Chicago. He served as a professor of the China Center for Economic Research of Beijing University, a facility he co-founded, until 1993.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Lin would bring to the bank the perspective of a developing country on agriculture issues, as well as on economic challenges in Africa, where China has aggressively sought trade and investment opportunities.

“As our first chief economist from a developing country, and an expert on economic development and particularly agriculture, Justin Lin brings a unique set of skills and experience to the World Bank Group,” Zoellick said. “I look forward to working closely with him on a number of areas, including growth and investment in Africa, opportunities for South-South learning (between developing countries), and bank instruments to better support countries hit by high energy and agriculture prices,” he said. (more…)

Full post as published by China Briefing Blog on February 07, 2008 (boomark / email).