Donald Kohn, Former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman, to Join Brookings

Donald Kohn, former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman and an expert on monetary policy, financial regulation and macroeconomics, will join the Brookings Institution as a senior fellow in mid-September, Strobe Talbott announced today.

“We are delighted to welcome Don to the Economic Studies program at Brookings,” said Talbott. “His experience during four decades at the Federal Reserve will inform his work at Brookings with a unique perspective, and offer policymakers and the broader global community a seasoned view of the complex economic challenges governments around the world face today.”

Kohn played a central role in the U.S. government’s response to the global financial crisis. He worked closely with other government agencies to formulate and implement innovative policies; helped lead the stress tests of major U.S. financial institutions; directed efforts to increase the transparency of the Federal Reserve’s actions; and, in his position as chair of the Committee on the Global Financial System within the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, helped central banks better focus their responses.

“As Vice Chairman, Don was instrumental in the Federal Reserve’s efforts to navigate the financial crisis and stabilize markets here at home and across the globe. It is a privilege to welcome him to Brookings to continue his distinguished work,” said Karen Dynan, Vice President and Co-Director, Economic Studies, and the Robert S. Kerr Senior Fellow. Ted Gayer, Co-Director, Economic Studies, and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow added “His long experience in economic policy, culminating in his stewardship role during the crisis, gives him tremendous insight.”

Kohn holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. Before becoming a member of the Federal Reserve Board, he was Adviser to the Board for Monetary Policy from 2001 to 2002, Director of the Division of Monetary Affairs from 1987 to 2001 and Deputy Staff Director for Monetary and Financial Policy from 1983 to 1987. Kohn began his career in 1970 as a financial economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Kohn has also written extensively on Federal Reserve policy and macroeconomic issues. His work has been published by the Federal Reserve System, the Bank of England, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Korea and the National Bureau of Economic Research.