Francisco Ferreira
Economist Professor Francisco (Chico) Ferreira, who currently oversees the World Bank's research program on poverty and inequality, has been appointed the inaugural Amartya Sen Chair in Inequalities Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Professor Ferreira, who has BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Economics from LSE, has spent most of his career at the World Bank, most recently as Acting Director of the World Bank’s Research Department. He has managed the Poverty and Inequality Unit in the Research Department since 2015 and has also held the role of Regional Chief Economist for Africa.
His work has had major policy impact: he was one of a small group of Brazilian economists who designed the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programme, which was taken up by President Lula’s government. His advice also influenced a similar scheme in Côte d’Ivoire, and he has advised policy makers in a range of countries, from South Africa to Canada. Professor Ferreira is also a prolific author, with work on topics ranging from political economy to methodological research on the measurement of poverty and inequality.
Professor Ferreira said: "Multiple and mutually reinforcing inequalities - of income, wealth, opportunity and power - are among the defining challenges of our time. I am very excited to join the team at the International Inequalities Institute at the LSE: one of the world's leading centres for the study of these challenges. I look forward to working with my future colleagues there - and across the LSE community - to make further strides in our understanding of how inequalities are perpetuated, both within and among nations, and of what can be done to fight them."
Minouche Shafik, Director of LSE, said: “The International Inequalities Institute exemplifies LSE’s commitment to tackling complex global issues and delivering meaningful benefit to individuals and communities in all parts of the world. Addressing the impact of today’s global inequalities is a huge challenge, and I am delighted that Professor Ferreira will bring his wealth of experience to the III as it continues to lead the way in understanding the causes of, and developing the tools to address international inequalities.”
Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute at LSE, was one of Professor Ferreira’s graduate supervisors at the School. He said: ‘It is splendid news that Chico is coming back to LSE. He had an outstanding career as a researcher at the World Bank where he helped shape the global agenda on policy towards and the measurement of poverty. He is a real leader and will take the III to centre stage of world discussion of inequality.”
Professor Ferreira will also take over from Professor Mike Savage as Director of the International Inequalities Institute (III) when he joins LSE in July 2020. As part of his role as Director of the III, Professor Ferreira will be working closely with the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity, who are mid-career social change leaders from academic, third sector, campaign and policy-making organisations committed to challenging inequality. Support for the International Inequalities Institute and the Atlantic Fellows programme has been provided by the Atlantic Philanthropies through a 20-year landmark gift, the School's largest to date.