US State Department picks Chad Bown as chief economist

The U.S. Department of State has named Chad P. Bown as chief economist.

In the new role, he will be tasked with leading the Office of the Chief Economist, which provides the department with economic analysis of high-priority issues and areas of U.S. foreign policy.

Bown was most recently a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, and before that was lead economist of the development research group at the World Bank.

Bown’s research examines international trade laws and institutions, trade negotiations, and trade disputes. He is the host of Trade Talks, a podcast about the economics of international trade and policy.

He was previously a tenured professor of economics at Brandeis University, and between 2010 and 2011 served on the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers.

Commenting on his appointment, the U.S. State Department said: “Dr. Bown’s appointment demonstrates Secretary Blinken’s commitment to the State Department’s modernization agenda, ensuring economic data and analysis is infused into the work of the Department at all levels.” It added: “The appointment also highlights the importance of increasing the Department’s ability to analyze and understand how economics influences virtually every major foreign policy challenge.”