WIPO Names First-Ever Chief Economist

A well-known European economist has been named the first-ever Chief Economist at the World Intellectual Property Organization, according to sources.

The announcement has not been made officially yet, but sources say the selection of Professor Carsten Fink is final and that he is expected start at the UN body as soon as August.

Fink, who is German, is professor of international economics at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Before joining St. Gallen’s Economics Department, Fink was a visiting professor at the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris and a visiting senior fellow at the Group d’Economie Mondiale, a research institute at Sciences Po.

Fink is recognised in Geneva for his years as senior economist at the World Bank Institute, based at the World Bank’s office in Geneva. He also was an economist in the Trade Division of the World Bank’s research department, based in Washington, DC.

Fink focuses on the economic effects of trade reforms and the rules of international trade agreements, according to sources. Much of his research has focused on legal and economic aspects of trade policy in services and the effects of intellectual property rights protection in developing countries. His research has been published in a number of academic journals and books, for instance, a recent book on IP and development.

He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and a Master of Science degree in economics from the University of Oregon in the United States.

WIPO member states have sought to elevate economic analysis for some time, according to sources. The chief economist likely will oversee WIPO’s increased focus on economic analysis, possibly through a special division in the future. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry has made this issue a priority since taking office last October.

WIPO has posted a job vacancy for another economist as well.

A source said that an announcement also may follow soon on a new director of global issues at WIPO.