Raghuram Rajan - A Lifestory
Economist: Ideas Shaping Finance, Understanding Markets, And Building Economies
Raghuram Rajan is a distinguished Indian economist renowned for his contributions to both academia and policymaking. He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and later pursued an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. His academic journey culminated in a PhD in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Following his doctoral studies, Rajan joined the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, where he became a professor of finance, eventually holding the prestigious Eric J. Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Finance title.
His academic work has focused on areas such as banking, corporate finance, and economic development. Rajan is particularly recognized for his prescient warnings about the potential risks of the financial system leading up to the 2008 global financial crisis. He served as the Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2003 to 2006, providing crucial economic guidance on a global scale. Subsequently, he returned to academia before taking on the role of Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure at the RBI, he implemented policies aimed at curbing inflation, stabilizing the Indian rupee, and reforming the banking sector. His proactive approach and insightful analysis earned him widespread respect, although his policies also faced criticism from some quarters. Beyond his academic and policy roles, Rajan has authored several influential books, including "Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy," which received the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year award. He continues to contribute to economic discourse through his writings and public engagements.
