Roque Fernández
Roque Benjamín Fernández | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1947 Córdoba, Argentina |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, academic |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | President of the Central Bank of Argentina, Minister of Economy of Argentina |
| Notable work | Numerous books and articles in economic journals |
Roque Benjamín Fernández (born April 30, 1947) is an Argentine economist recognized for his tenure as President of the Central Bank of Argentina and as Minister of Economy. He stands out as the sole individual among the Chicago Boys to have directed economic policy in Argentina. In 2023, he was involved in Javier Milei's presidential campaign.
Early years
Originating from Córdoba, Argentina, Fernández obtained a CPA and completed his doctorate in economics at the National University of Córdoba. Awarded a Ford Foundation fellowship in 1973, he pursued and achieved a PhD in economics at the University of Chicago by 1975.
Academics
Since 1978, Fernández has been part of the Board of Directors and faculty at Universidad del CEMA, where he specializes in teaching monetary theory.
Central Bank
Fernández was appointed president of the Central Bank of Argentina on February 5, 1991, following a recommendation by Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo. In this role, he was instrumental in overseeing the Argentine Currency Board and supported Cavallo’s Convertibility Plan, which fixed the exchange rate between the Argentine peso and the US dollar at parity. His presidency lasted until August 4, 1996, when he took over from Cavallo as Minister of Economy during President Carlos Menem’s administration.
Minister of Economy
Serving from August 1996 until December 1999, Fernández is credited with maintaining both a stable currency exchange rate and zero inflation despite facing significant international financial disturbances such as the Mexican (1994), Asian (1997), and Russian (1998) crises.
Return to academics
Fernández currently teaches macroeconomic analysis at the graduate level and macroeconomics I for undergraduates at University of CEMA. His academic career also includes visiting professorships at institutions like University of Southern California, Florida International University, University of Chile, and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Moreover, he has provided consultancy services and economic expertise to organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
His areas of specialization encompass banking systems, financial structures in developing nations, fiscal and monetary policies, exchange rate management, balance of payments issues, and financial crisis analysis.
As a scholar, Fernández has published numerous books and articles featured in journals including the American Economic Review and Journal of Political Economy. He holds membership in the Academia Nacional de Ciencias Economicas.
See also
External links
- Statement by Mr. Roque B. Fernández at the IMF meeting in 1999
- Roque Fernández at IDEAS
- Roque Fernández in Fortuna Magazine