Definition
Eugene Kandel (born 1956) is a Russian‑American economist, academic, and former senior official of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. He is currently a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Overview
Kandel received his higher education in the former Soviet Union, graduating from Moscow State University with a degree in economics and later earning a Ph.D. in the same field. In the 1990s he held several high‑level positions in Russian economic policy institutions, most notably serving as First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia from 1995 to 1998. During his tenure he was involved in the implementation of monetary reforms and the stabilization of the Russian financial system following the post‑Soviet transition.
After leaving the Central Bank, Kandel pursued an academic career in the United States. He joined the Harvard Kennedy School in 2000, where he teaches courses on international finance, macroeconomics, and development economics. His research focuses on financial crises, macro‑financial linkages, and the economics of transition economies. Kandel has authored or co‑authored numerous articles in peer‑reviewed journals and contributed chapters to edited volumes on global financial stability.
Etymology/Origin
The given name “Eugene” derives from the Greek ἐυγένης (eugenēs), meaning “well‑born” or “noble.” The surname “Kandel” is of Germanic origin, historically associated with families from regions of Central and Eastern Europe; in Slavic contexts it may appear as a transliteration of the Russian “Кандель.”
Characteristics
- Professional Roles: Former First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia; Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School; Consultant to international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
- Research Interests: Financial crises and contagion, monetary policy in emerging markets, macroeconomic stabilization, economic transition from planned to market economies.
- Publications: Author of “Financial Crises and the Economics of Financial Institutions” (co‑edited, 2002) and numerous scholarly articles on topics such as capital flight, exchange‑rate regimes, and fiscal reform.
- Academic Contributions: Lectures widely on comparative economic systems; mentor to graduate students in public policy and economics; participates in policy workshops and conferences worldwide.
Related Topics
- Central Bank of Russia
- Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- Russian economic reforms of the 1990s
- Financial crisis literature
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) policy advisory work
- Transition economies and market liberalization