Abdur Rahim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi professor of economics at Marquette University, has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Academic Advisory Council, the university said.
Chowdhury, who is the chairman of Milwaukee based Marquette’s College of Business Administration, will join more than a dozen other professors in the Chicago Fed’s district to provide advice on monetary policy to the central bank.
The Fed’s Academic Advisory Council meets twice annually in March and September. Charles Evans, Chicago Fed president, presides over the daylong meetings, which typically include Fed presentations on the economy and a roundtable discussion.
“I am honoured and excited about this unique opportunity,” said Chowdhury, who completed honours in economics from the University of Dhaka in 1976 and his master’s the following year.
“That the Fed recognises the value we — economics professors — can bring to shaping economic policy is laudable,” he told the Marquette University website.
Chowdhury, a former research officer of Planning Commission and World Bank Resident Mission in Dhaka, specialises in open economy macroeconomics and monetary policy. As the chief economist for Capital Market Consultants in Milwaukee, he prepares quarterly and monthly commentaries on US and global economic issues and challenges.
He also provides regular advice on economic policy issues to a number of investment firms and financial institutions. He worked as a consultant to the World Economic Association of Helsinki, Finland.
Earlier, Prof Chowdhury also worked with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), an independent think-tank.
From 2003 to 2008, he worked as the chief economist and director of the Economic Analysis Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Dr Chowdhury’s appointment to the Fed’s Academic Advisory Council is a shining example of our college’s commitment to research with relevance,” said Linda Salchenberger, Keyes Dean of Business Administration.
“Not only do our students benefit from his research, but now the Federal Reserve will have the opportunity to capitalize on Dr Chowdhury’s keen economic analyses in very practical ways,” she said.
