IMFx: FPP.1x Financial Programming and Policies, Part 1: Macroeconomic Accounts & Analysis

Paolo Dudine - I am currently a Senior Economist in the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF. Until recently I was a Senior Economist at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development, which I joined in 2009. Prior to that, I spent four years in the Strategy Policy and Review Department where I dealt with low-income country issues and served as the external sector economist for Honduras and Bulgaria. Upon joining the IMF in 2004, I spent one a year in the African Department working on Angola. I obtained my Ph.D. in 2004 from New York University. I am a national of Italy.

Adolfo Barajas - I am a Senior Economist at the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. Prior to that, I worked in the Middle East and Central Asia Department and the Western Hemisphere Department. I have a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University, specializing in finance and development and open economy macroeconomics. Before 1994, I was a Senior Economist in the Research Department of the Central Bank of Colombia, and a researcher at Fedesarrollo, a private think tank in Bogotá, Colombia. I am a national of Colombia.

Eric Verreydt - I am a former Senior Economist at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development. Most of my twenty-plus year career at the IMF has been in area departments, as a country economist, resident representative, or mission chief for various low- or middle- income countries in Africa and the Western Hemisphere. I graduated in econometrics from the University of Brussels, where I also taught and conducted applied research on international trade issues. I am a national of Belgium.

Luisa Zanforlin - I am a Lead Financial Sector Specialist at the World Bank. Prior to that, I was a Senior Economist at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development, which I joined in 2012. I have a Ph.D. from the European University Institute in Florence. I joined the IMF in 1995 and have worked in the European Department and the Monetary and Capital Markets Department. I have done extensive work in the area of international economics and finance, and have done related work in several countries around the world, such as Iceland, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Portugal, and Romania. I am an Italian national.

Nan Li - I am an Economist at the IMF's Research Department, specializing in business cycles, international economics, and economic growth. Prior to that I worked in the Fund's Institute for Capacity Development teaching courses. I joined the Fund from the Ohio State University, where I was an assistant professor at the Department of Economics (2007-2011). I am also a research associate of the Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. I grew up in China where I attended Peking University. I have a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.

Francesco Luna - I am currently a Senior Economist at the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. I have joined the Fund in 2000 and worked on transition economies, emerging markets, and developing economies. More recently, I have worked at the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office participating in an evaluation on IMF forecasts. Before joining the Fund I was at the University of Venice in Italy, visiting professor at Oberlin College and a consultant for the World Bank. I hold a PhD from UCLA and a Doctorate from the University of Bologna. Yes, I am Italian.

Rui Xu - I am an Economist at the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. I joined the Fund in 2016 and I have worked on research about economic growth, fiscal institutions, innovation, international migration and international trade. I studied at Stanford for my doctoral degree in Economics before I joined the Fund. My bachelor’s degree is in Economics and Finance from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Natalia Malysheva - I am Russian and have been working at the IMF since 2008. I helped put together the video material, which I hope you will find fun and useful. In my free time, I enjoy photography, music, biking, and car racing.

Matt Di Carlo - I am a Training Administrator at the IMF and served as lead in inputting the assessments for this course. I joined the Fund in 2006 and have spent the last many years focused on distance learning administration. I am an American citizen from Boston, MA and have Masters Degrees in History from Brandeis University and in European Politics from the London School of Economics. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, following baseball, and watching classic movies.

Jewel Perry - I am an American working at the IMF as a Business Analyst and Program Manager for small and large projects. I have a degree in business management with over 20 years of experience in training and technical documentation. In my free time I like watching movies, cooking, and shopping. I hope you enjoy this learning experience and wish you the best of luck.

Herbert Lui - I am a Systems Analyst at the IMF. I have created several interactive web pages for this course. I hope you will find them helpful. You may find some special effects if you look closer. Outside of the office, I enjoy jogging, hiking, and programming.

Srdjan Beronja - I am a Research Analyst at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development. Prior to joining the Fund, I worked as a strategy consultant at a multinational bank. I studied economics and international relations at Brown University. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, dancing, and practicing foreign languages. After separating from the Fund, I will be continuing my studies at Cambridge University. Enjoy the course!

Khishigsuren Jargalsaikhan - I am a Research Analyst at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development. Prior to joining the IMF in 2017, I obtained a degree in Economics and Political Science from Amherst College. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing piano, listening to music and hanging out with friends. I am a national of Mongolia.

Dina Yunus - I am a Programs Assistant at IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. I support the team with registering applications and enrollment. I am also happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the course. I am German and have a Masters Degree in International Business Management from Aachen University, Germany. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, travelling and yoga. Enjoy the course!