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Raghuram Rajan

Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance

Raghuram Rajan



Position: Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance


Affiliation: The University of Chicago Booth School of Business



Professional Experience


  • Current Role:

Raghuram Rajan holds the prestigious position of Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Here, he conducts extensive research in the areas of banking, corporate finance, and economic development.

  • Past Roles:

  • Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (September 2013 - September 2016): Rajan was the 23rd Governor, where his primary focus was on curbing inflation.

  • Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India: Appointed on August 10, 2012, succeeding Kaushik Basu.

  • Chief Economist and Director of Research at the IMF (October 2003 - December 2006): First person from an emerging-market nation to hold this position.


Academic Qualifications


  • PhD in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: His thesis focused on banking and its relationship with economic systems.

  • MBA, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad: Graduated with a gold medal.

  • BTech in Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi: Awarded as the best all-round student.


Research Interests and Achievements


Rajan’s research encompasses a wide spectrum of finance-related topics, including:
  • Banking: Extensive work on financial intermediation and regulation.

  • Corporate Finance: Influential theories on organizations and financial markets.

  • Economic Development: Examined the impacts of finance on economic growth.


Key Publications


  • Books:

  • "Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy": Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year (2010).

  • "The Third Pillar: How the State and Markets hold the Community Behind" (2019): Finalist for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year prize.

  • "Breaking the Mold: Reimagining India's Economic Future" with Rohit Lamba.


  • Recent Articles:

  • “Sovereign Debt and Economic Growth when Government is Myopic and Self-interested”, forthcoming in Journal of International Economics.

  • “The Decline of Secured Debt”, Journal of Finance Jan 2024.


Honors and Recognition


  • Infosys Prize for Economic Sciences (2012)

  • Deutsche Bank Prize for Financial Economics (2013)

  • Euromoney Central Banker Governor of the Year (2014)

  • Banker Magazine Central Bank Governor of the Year (2016)

  • Fischer Black Prize (2003)

  • Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Group of Thirty


Contributions and Insights


  • Economic Forecasting: Notably predicted the 2008 financial crisis at the Federal Reserve annual Jackson Hole conference in 2005.

  • Financial Sector Reforms: Authored the influential report “A Hundred Small Steps”, outlining financial sector reforms in India.

  • Policy Influence: Played a crucial role in integrating financial sector analysis at the IMF and guided India’s economic policies during his tenure as Chief Economic Adviser.


Professional Engagements and Affiliations


  • Vice-Chairman of the Bank for International Settlements (appointed November 2015)

  • President of the American Finance Association (2011)

  • Chairman of the Per Jacobsson Foundation

  • Senior Economic Advisor to BDT Capital

  • Managing Director at Andersen Tax


Contact Information


  • Address: Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, 5807 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637

  • Tel: (773) 702-4437

  • Email: Available via University of Chicago Booth School of Business




This report provides a comprehensive overview of Rajan's professional background, highlighting key aspects relevant for strategic sales engagements. His extensive expertise in finance and economics, combined with his influential roles in academia and policy-making, position him as a pivotal figure in financial research and economic strategy.