Yale’s Penny Goldberg to Serve as Chief Economist at the World Bank

Pinelopi K. “Penny” Goldberg, the Elihu Professor of Economics at Yale University, has been named chief economist of the World Bank. She will take public service leave from her faculty position at Yale for the duration of her term at the World Bank.

The World Bank is an international financial institution that is committed to fight poverty and promote economic prosperity. Professor Goldberg will serve to govern the World Bank’s research agenda and development strategy.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Goldberg stated that “Yale has a long tradition not only of excellence in research and teaching, but also of public service, and I strive to be part of this tradition. I am truly excited about the opportunity to help the World Bank meet its goals. And while being away from Yale in the next couple of years is bittersweet, I hope to draw on the expertise and wisdom of my current colleagues many of whom have made path-breaking contributions to the study of growth, development, and poverty reduction.”

Dr. Goldberg, who has dual citizenship with Greece and the United States, joined the faculty at Yale in 2001. Earlier, she taught a Princeton University and Columbia University. She is vice president of the American Economic Association and from 2011 to 2017 served as editor-in-chief of the American Economic Review.

A graduate of the University of Freiburg in Germany, Dr. Goldberg earned a Ph.D. at Stanford University.