José Antonio Ocampo

José Antonio Ocampo is a Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs and director, Economic and Political Development Concentration at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. He will teach courses in the PhD program in Sustainable Development and is a member of Columbia's Committee on Global Thought.

Prior to his appointment, Professor Ocampo served in a number of positions in the United Nations and the Government of Colombia, most notably as United Nations Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs; Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Chairman of the Board of Banco del República (Central Bank of Colombia); Director, National Planning Department (Minister of Planning); Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chairman of the Board of Banco Cafetero (Coffee Bank) and Caja de Crèdito Agraria, Industrial y Minera (Agrarian Bank) and Executive Director, FEDESARROLLO.

Dr. Ocampo received his BA in Economics and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and his PhD in Economics from Yale University, 1976. He was a Professor in the Advanced Programme on Rethinking Development Economics at Cambridge University, a Professor of Economics at Universidad de los Andes, a Professor of Economic History at the National University of Colombia, as well as a Visiting Fellow at Yale and Oxford.

He is the author of numerous books and articles on macroeconomics policy and theory, economic development, international trade and economic history. His recent publications include Stability with Growth: Macroeconomics, Liberalization and Development, with Joseph E. Stiglitz, Shari Spiegel, Ricardo French-Davis and Deepak Nayyar, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006).

"José Antonio Ocampo brings to SIPA the knowledge and insight of a first rate policy economist and economic historian together with broad experience as a leading international public servant and former cabinet minister. His appointment also strengthens Columbia's growing community of Latin American specialists and especially the Institute for Latin American Studies. This is an outstanding appointment for Columbia," said John Coatsworth, SIPA's interim dean.

Current Positions

• University Professor, School of International and Public Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs
• Director, Economic and Political Development Concentration of SIPA, Economic and Political Development Concentration of SIPA
• Co-President, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Initiative for Policy Dialogue
• Fellow, Committee on Global Thought, Committee on Global Thought
• Member, Board of Directors, Board of Directors

Past Positions

• Member, Commission of Experts, General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System, United Nations, 2009
• Under-Secretary General, Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, 2003-2007
• Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), United Nations, 1998-2003
• Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Colombia, 1996-1997
• Chairman, Board of Banco del Republica (Central Bank of Colombia), Colombia, 1996-1997
• Director (Minister of Planning), National Planning Department, Colombia, 1994-1996
• Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Colombia, 1993-1994
• Chairman, Board, Banco Cafetero (Coffee Bank), 1993-1994
• Chairman, Board, Caja de Credito Agraria, Industrial y Minera (Agrarian Bank), 1993-1994
• Senior Researcher, FEDESARROLLO, 1988-1989; 1991-1993
• Advisor, Colombian Foreign Trade Board, 1990-1991
• Head, Mission to Nicaragua, Swedish International Development Authority and World Institute for Development Economic Research (SIDA-WIDER), 1989-1993
• Member, Mission to Nicaragua, SIDA-WIDER, 1989
• Advisor, Coffee Affairs, Colombian Government, 1989-1990
• Executive Director, FEDESARROLLO, 1984-1988
• National Coordinator, Employment Mission, 1985-1986
• Deputy Direcor, FEDESARROLLO, 1983-1984
• Coeditor, Coyuntura Economica (Journal), 1984
• Director, Center for Development Studies (CEDE), Universidad de los Andes, 1980-1982
• Director, Desarrollo y Sociedad (Journal), 1980-1982
• Researcher, CEDE, Universidad de los Andes, 1976-1979
• Professor, Department of Economics, Universidad de los Andes, 1976-1979

Education

• B.A. in Economics and Sociology, University of Notre Dame, 1972
• PH. D. in Economics, Yale University, 1976