Ronnie Chatterji Appointed Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce
- In his new role, the Obama administration alumni will cover a wide variety of economic issues, ranging from regional development to innovation and trade.
Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji has been appointed to a senior role in President Joe Biden’s administration to work on policies related to competitiveness, innovation, trade and economic growth. Chatterji will serve as chief economist of the United States Department of Commerce, acting as the principal economic adviser to the secretary of commerce. He previously worked in President Obama’s administration as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Chatterji, the Mark Burgess and Lisa Benson-Burgess Distinguished Professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, will take a leave of absence from the school during his service at the Department of Commerce.
“I’m excited to announce that I am joining the Biden Administration as the Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce,” Chatterji wrote on his social media handles. “It is an honor to work with Secretary [Gina] Raimondo and the team to build back better and invest in a stronger American economy. I will be covering a wide variety of economic issues, ranging from regional development to innovation and trade.”
Chatterji’s research explores the intersection of public policy and business, including a focus on the drivers that enable success for innovative firms and new startups. “I am passionate about creating policy that unlocks the best in American innovation and entrepreneurship,” a Duke university press release quoted Chatterji. “I am grateful for the opportunity to put my research at Duke to work by crafting policies that strengthen our economy and businesses. I hope my academic and policy work can contribute to U.S. economic growth and expanding opportunities for all Americans.”
His work has been published in top journals in strategic management, economics, finance and organizational studies. He received the 2017 Kauffman Prize Medal for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship, the Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute, and the Strategic Management Society Emerging Scholar Award, as well as numerous teaching awards.
Chatterji was previously a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and worked as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. Chatterji and his wife, Neely, are residents of Durham, North Carolina, where they are raising their three children.