CAMBRIDGE, MA – Former UK Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (2011-15) Ed Balls has been appointed as an senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government (M-RCBG) for the 2015-16 academic year.
A Harvard Kennedy School graduate (MPA2 1990), Balls served in the UK Cabinet as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and was the UK Minister for Financial Services (2006-07). Previously, he served as the Chief Economic Adviser to the UK Treasury (1997-2004) during which he was Chair of the IMFC Deputies and UK G20 Deputy. While Shadow Chancellor, he co-chaired the Centre for American Progress Inclusive Prosperity Commission with current M-RCBG Director Lawrence H. Summers.
“We’re delighted to welcome Ed Balls to the Mossavar-Rahmani Business and Government Center,” said John Haigh, co-director of the Center and executive dean of Harvard Kennedy School. “Ed brings enormous depth and breadth of experience in the public sector and we’re confident he will make a valuable contribution to our students, to the Center, and to Harvard more generally.”
While serving as an M-RCBG senior fellow, and working on global financial stability and European integration issues, Balls will be analyzing international patterns of economic growth, investment, productivity, wages and employment and global policy responses to foster more inclusive prosperity.
The Senior Fellows Program is designed to strengthen the connection between theory and practice as the center examines and develops policies at the intersection of business and government. Every senior fellow is sponsored by a Harvard faculty member. During their time at M-RCBG, they undertake a substantial research project and offer a study group for students.