Donald Kohn
Donald L. Kohn | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 7, 1942 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Economist |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Known for | Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve (2006–2010) |
Donald Lewis Kohn (born November 7, 1942) is a prominent American economist who held the position of the 18th vice chair of the Federal Reserve between 2006 and 2010. Prior to this role, he was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in 2002. Following a distinguished 40-year tenure at the Federal Reserve, Kohn retired and currently contributes as a member of the Financial Policy Committee at the Bank of England and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Early life and family
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Kohn completed his undergraduate studies with a B.A. in economics from The College of Wooster in 1964. He later earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan in 1971. He is married to Gail, and together they have two children.
Career
Throughout his long-standing career at the Federal Reserve, Kohn held several key positions including Adviser to the Board for Monetary Policy (2001–02), Secretary of the Federal Open Market Committee (1987–2002), Director of the Division of Monetary Affairs (1987–2001), and Deputy Staff Director for Monetary and Financial Policy (1983–87). His earlier appointments encompassed Associate Director of Research and Statistics (1981–83) and Financial Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1970–75).
Kohn was sworn into the Board of Governors on August 5, 2002, for a term scheduled to conclude in 2016. In May 2006, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as vice chairman, succeeding Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., a nomination that received Senate approval. He remained in this capacity until his retirement on June 23, 2010. Upon his departure, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke commended Kohn’s four decades of dedicated public service.
After leaving the Federal Reserve, Kohn joined the Interim Financial Policy Committee at the Bank of England in February 2011. Additionally, he functions as Senior Economic Strategist at Potomac Research Group, where he provides insight into U.S. economic developments.
Economic views and honors
Kohn has authored numerous publications focusing on monetary policy and Federal Reserve operations, with his analyses disseminated through institutions such as the Federal Reserve System, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, Bank of Korea, National Bureau of Economic Research, and Brookings Institution.
His awards include The Money Marketeers’ Distinguished Achievement Award from New York University (2002), the College of Wooster’s Distinguished Alumni Award (1998), and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree granted by the College of Wooster (2006).