Valerie Cerra

Valerie Cerra, Assistant Director and Division Chief of the Inclusive Growth and Structural Policies Division at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development, is a distinguished economist with a multifaceted career spanning policy advice, lending, and capacity development across diverse economies. Her IMF journey includes pivotal roles as mission chief for countries like Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Cabo Verde, showcasing her expertise in international macroeconomics and financial crisis management. Cerra's academic background, combining finance and engineering degrees from the University of Pennsylvania with a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Washington, complements her practical experience as a financial analyst and Chartered Financial Analyst. Her groundbreaking research, challenging conventional views on economic recovery patterns post-crisis, has been widely published in leading economics journals. Cerra's work focuses on international macroeconomics, economic scarring, financial crises, and inclusive growth, contributing significantly to the IMF's approach to policy formulation and capacity building in advanced, emerging, and developing economies. Her diverse experience across multiple IMF departments and her innovative research have positioned her as a key figure in shaping global economic policies and understanding the long-term impacts of financial crises.