Ann Pettifor (PRIME (Policy Research in Macroeconomics))
Ann Pettifor is Director of PRIME (Policy Research in Macroeconomics) an economic think-tank that promotes understanding of the nature of credit, and its role in determining macroeconomic outcomes.
Ann Pettifor’s most recent publication: “The economic consequences of Mr. Osborne” was co-authored with Professor Victoria Chick of University College London and published on www.primeeconomics.org and www.debtonation.org.
Ann’s overriding concern is with monetary policy, and in particular, the rate of interest. Unlike most orthodox economists she regards the high rates of interest charged to borrowers as causal to the ongoing financial crisis. As a Keynesian, she argues strongly for ‘tight but cheap money’.
Ann’s special interests include a) the architecture of the international financial system and its impact on sovereign debt and domestic monetary and fiscal policy and b) the challenges posed to economic policy by the twin threats of peak oil and climate change.
Ann is a fellow of the new economics foundation, (nef) London where she dedicated three years to studying the post-Bretton Woods financial architecture. This led to the publication of the ‘Real World Economic Outlook’ (Palgrave 2003) and ‘The coming first world debt crisis’ (Palgrave, 2006). She also co-authored nef’s ‘the Green New Deal’, published in July, 2008 and updated as “The Cuts Won’t Work” in December, 2009.
Before that Ann led a global advocacy effort aimed at the Paris Club, the World Bank and IMF to have the unpayable debts of the poorest countries written off. As a result, and with the support of leaders ranging from PM Tony Blair, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to Presidents Clinton and George Bush – more than $100 billion of debt was acknowledged as unpayable, and written off for 35 of the lowest income countries.
Ann blogs at www.debtonation.org and also the Huffington Post.
